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ABOUT 374 inconsiderate members of the public were taken to task for disposing of their rubbish, including cigarette butts, haphazardly around the commercial centres and public areas under City Hall’s jurisdiction in the first quarter of the year.

Officers with the agency’s “Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pembersihan Bandaraya (Urban Cleanliness Department, UCD)” collected a total of RM7,800 in compounds from these errant individuals during checks made as part of its “Ops Bersih” endeavours since January.

A UCD spokesman said RM2,560 was accrued in April, RM240 in February and RM5,000 in January.

“A total of 128 offenders immediately settled their compounds last month, while 246 did the same in the first two months of the year” he said.

“Ten others elected to pay the penalties within the allotted grace-period during the latter period.”

He said no “Ops Bersih” checks were made in March as most of the UCD’s personnel were caught up familiarising shop operators at the Salut Commercial Centre with the requirements of our SPSS [“Sistem Pelupusan sampah sendiri (Personal waste disposal system)”.

He explained that the SPSS did away with the need for bin-centres.

“Our compactor parks at a designated spot once in the morning and again at night, as part of the system. Those in the vicinity bring over the garbage from their respective premises, during these times, and throw it into the back of the vehicle.”

He said the Department’s staff had been deployed on shifts round the clock at the commercial property throughout March to ensure that the SPSS proceeded as it should.

The spokesman said four to five UCD inspectors carried out 208 “Ops Bersih” inspections between April 30 and January 1.

A compound of up to RM500 could be imposed against anyone found to be contravening City Hall’s Anti-Litter ByLaws 1984 (Amendment 2005) during this exercise, according to him.

He said those who repeatedly disregarded the agency’s calls to refrain from littering in the common areas could wind up having legal action taken against them.

“They will become liable to a fine for as much as RM 10,000, if they are found guilty in court.”

He said the “Ops Bersih” checks in January, February and April involved properties within the City Centre, as well as those in areas ranging from Telipok to Lido, according to him.

He said those in Kota Kinabalu, included the shophouses in Asia City, Kg Air, Sinsuran, Bandaran Berjaya and Segama, as well as along Jalan Gaya.

The common areas around KK Plaza, Centre Point Sabah, Api-Api Centre, the Central Market and the City Hall Jetty were also kept under surveillance. 

“Most of the wrongdoers in April were caught red-handed around the May Bank area of Kg Air (17),” the spokesman said. 

“Another 12 were taken to task around the Centre Point Shopping Centre, while seven others were apprehended in the vicinity of the Sinsuran shophouses.

He said one was caught along Gaya Street and another two in the Kg Air area in February”

“In January, the highest number of litterbugs was nabbed around Centre Point (38), followed by Bandaran Berjaya (24) and Asia City (16).”

When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the UCD team went to Foh Sang, Damai Plaza, Plaza Juta, the Alam Mesra Commercial Centre, Kingfisher Plaza, Kingfisher Riverside, the mini Putrajaya Administrative Complex, EG Mall, Taipan, Inanam Point, Inanam Sentral, Manggatal Plaza, the Wee Hing Industrial area, the Salut Commercial Centre and Synergy Square, as well as the shops at Universiti Apartments, Taman Kuala Manggatal, Taman Fajar, Taman Nelly.

Checks were also made in the Lido, Sembulan, Inanam, Manggatal and Telipok townships.

“A majority of the litterbugs were caught around Inanam last month,” he said. “Eight others were penalised around Kingfisher Plaza and six each were taken to task around the Inanam Business Centre, as well as the shops at Universiti Apartments.”

He said two litterbugs were taken to task in February Taman Kuala Manggatal and one at Kingfisher Plaza.

“The Putrajaya Administrative Complex had the most offenders in January, with 10 offenders. This was followed by Manggatal Plaza where eight others were caught and three at Damai Plaza.”