Ipoh council workers are constantly cleaning up to make Ipoh a clean city but littering and illegal dumping make it difficult for them to achieve this vision. — Filepic
COMMUNITY service as a form of punishment for litterbugs has received the thumbs up from Ipoh folk.
Last month, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry was looking at amending the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) to provide stiffer punishment, as current fines seem ineffective to prevent littering.
According to a news report, the proposed amendments included community service as a punishment because current fines did not seem to address the littering issue.
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Locals’ nod in approval
Residents who spoke to StarMetro said community service for litterbugs would be a good move in changing public attitude towards how they discard rubbish.
Zairi Kamarudin, 55, who is self-employed, said such punishment would help educate people on keeping the environment and cities clean.
“We need to make people aware about maintaining cleanliness in our cities and public areas,” he said when asked about the ministry’s proposed study to introduce community service to deter littering.
Ipoh council installed a CCTV in Buntong market to capture litterbugs and those dumping rubbish.
“They might not follow rules immediately, but in time, attitudes can change.
“Some people are not bothered even if they see rubbish lying around, because they think it is not their job to clean up.
“If Malaysia is to become a developed country, we have to adopt a good attitude on cleanliness, which can be a challenge to some people.”
P-hailing rider Fairul Abdul Latif, 54, said the move would help raise public awareness of environmental cleanliness.
“We still lack awareness in keeping our surroundings clean.
“I believe litterbugs will learn from this and maintain cleanliness if they are required to sweep the streets,” he said.
“Most people keep their homes clean and tidy, so they should also have the same mentality regarding public places.”
He said that while community service would be a good move, the government should also come up with innovative ideas to keep the environment clean.
“I feel ashamed when I see tourists walking past dirty roads,” said Fairul, adding that every Malaysian has the responsibility to keep the country clean.
Mindset shift needed
General worker E. Susila, 49, said that while local councils had hired contractors to maintain cleanliness of their respective municipalities or cities, people need to be civic-minded about areas they lived and worked in.
She shared her frustration over public apathy in cleanliness.
“As a general worker for the last 25 years, I see people throwing items like diapers, tissues, torn slippers, empty bottles and used face masks on the road.
Rubbish piling up below a sign advising against improper rubbish disposal in Tanjung Rambutan, reflecting people’s disregard for rules. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
“I also have to pick up empty plastic food containers at carparks.
“Some people carelessly throw food containers onto the streets instead of into rubbish bins.
“People think it is my job to clean up after them. When I question them, they reply that I am paid to sweep the road.
“People’s mentality must change, they should think twice before littering,” said Susila.
She said Singapore often received praise for its level of cleanliness but this was mainly due to strict rules and enforcement.
“People obey the law. I think the people here should do the same.
“It is common sense to keep the environment clean. The government should instal more CCTV cameras to catch litterbugs,” she added.
General worker Muhd Al’Nazirul Nazmi Mohd Radzi, 38, said a mindset change was vital to address littering.
“The government’s plan for community service to punish those who litter is good, but public attitude must change too.
“The public should take responsibility because a healthy and clean environment is crucial for all,” he said.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin emphasised the need for a change in attitude among Malaysians, highlighting that people in many developed countries were environmentally conscious.
“If we rely solely on monetary penalties, higher-income folk may not feel the pinch in paying fines,” he said.
“The real challenge in Malaysia is changing our attitude.
“It is not a waste management problem.
“We need to shift our mindset and that is the key.
“Introducing community service as a form of punishment will definitely enhance awareness of environmental cleanliness,” Rumaizi added.
Stricter enforcement
Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said many countries, including Singapore, the US and the Philippines had enforced community service for litterbugs.
“Singapore is among countries known for having the most spotless public spaces and strict anti-littering laws,” he said.
“Apart from being fined, offenders are required to do up to 12 hours of community service such as picking up rubbish or cleaning a public area.
“The laws are enforced by patrolling officers in plainclothes and surveillance technology.”
Ng said that in the US, a relatively minor case could see a wrongdoer being fined and ordered by the court to do cleaning work.
“The fines range from US$25 in Massachusetts to US$30,000 in Maryland.
“In more serious cases, offenders may be subject to imprisonment, with sentences ranging from 10 days in Idaho to six years in Tennessee,” he said.
“In the Philippines, litterbugs have to sing their national anthem in public and do community service.
“Meanwhile, in Sabah, recalcitrant litterbugs are dragged to court and their names published in newspapers to shame them,” he added.
While agreeing that the proposed move to enforce community service was laudable, Ng said it should depend on the seriousness of the offence.
“I believe that community service is ideal for minor offences like littering on the street. This needs to be spelt out clearly in the amendment,” he said.
“For serious offences like creating illegal dumpsites, the existing Environment Quality Act 1974 – which covers the dumping of unauthorised or harmful wastes on land or water – should be resorted to,” he said, adding that the punishment included a penalty of RM100,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both.
“Many are still not aware about the consequences of their irresponsible action on the environment.
“Rubbish thrown on streets can, over a period of time, convert into nitrogen which is harmful to health.
“I hope any move to deter indiscriminate waste dumping is implemented seriously,” said Ng.
He said rubbish, especially plastics, would clog up drains and result in flash floods.
“Plastics may also end up in oceans and affect marine and human lives,” he pointed out.
He also said that in order for the community service to work, more effort must be invested in catching litterbugs.
“We need to step up efforts to catch culprits in hotspot areas. This is not easy due to the limited number of council enforcement officers,” he said.
“Local councils, especially Ipoh City Council, have to consider setting up more CCTV cameras in these hotspot areas to catch offenders,” he added.
Bank staff S. Gobiraj, 47, praised the government’s vision to introduce harsher punishment but stressed the importance of strict enforcement.
“I appreciate what the government is trying to do, but there must be strict enforcement and people must be held accountable.
“I think community service for littering is a good move,” he said.
