Filepic of an illegal dumpsite near Meru, Klang.
KLANG Royal City Council (MBDK) is stepping up surveillance by relying on over 500 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to deter illegal dumping.
Klang mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said 507 cameras were now operational in hotspots. These include surveillance cameras on city council buildings.
“We have added 100 CCTV cameras to the earlier 407 units,” he said.
Abd Hamid: Cameras are monitoring hotspots, including backlanes in town (right).
MBDK Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin said MBDK had rented 100 CCTV cameras costing an estimated RM4mil, for a period of five years.
Abd Hamid said this would give the city council the opportunity to leverage on technology upgrades.
He said CCTV was useful as a strategy to deter illegal dumping activities and hold people accountable as MBDK pushed forward in its agenda to maintain cleanliness.
“Outsiders are dumping tonnes of bulk waste along quiet roads, back lanes and secluded areas in MBDK jurisdiction.
“We need to get serious in addressing this issue,” he said after a Ramadan event at Dewan Hamzah in Klang with city council staff yesterday.
Construction debris, broken furniture and industrial waste were often among the illegally dumped rubbish, he noted.
He said the city council had achieved success in the past using surveillance cameras to deter illegal dumping.
“It is time to step up CCTV use to nab irresponsible people who are destroying Klang’s image,” said Abd Hamid.
He added that residents and stakeholders who called in to complain were the ones bearing the brunt of the illegal dumping activity.
An aerial view of Little India / Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang. Photo for story of Klang will be proclaimed as a city on February 5th 2024. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
Last year, MBDK issued 393 compounds under Collection, Disposal and Management of Waste By-Laws 4 which amounted to RM223,750 in fines.
In January and February this year, 62 compounds were issued for illegal dumping and total fines amounted to RM14,200.
“Now with the use of CCTV cameras, we see less dumping,” said Zaireezal.
“The department has cut down on cleaning cost involving MBDK workers, use of council excavators and lorries to transfer debris to the landfill in Jeram, Kuala Selangor,” he said.
Zaireezal said those dumping waste illegally did so to avoid tipping fees at the Jeram landfill.
“Private contractors are charged RM55 for a one-tonne load,” he said.
