THE days of getting away with discarding waste in and along Petaling Jaya rivers may be numbered.
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is stepping up enforcement by extending its PJ Watch programme to cover riverbanks.
Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said MBPJ had already pinpointed 48 illegal dumping hotspots across the city.
He said the PJ Watch programme, which uses mobile closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, had proven effective after being placed in 43 locations.
“We have issued 348 compounds, caught 62 individuals, impounded 12 vehicles and took action against 46 companies.
“The PJ Watch programme works, and we are now looking to place CCTV cameras at riverside hotspots.
“If anyone dumps waste into our rivers, they will be nabbed,” Mohamad Zahri said during the Petaling Jaya World Clean-Up Day 2025 at Sungai Kayu Ara Retention Pond in Kampung Chempaka.
Over 400 volunteers turned up across Petaling Jaya for the gotong-royong effort, including 150 at the retention pond.
Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the annual clean-up was about more than just collecting rubbish.
“We want to instil a love for the environment and protect rivers as a treasure for future generations,” she said.
Jamaliah said Sungai Kayu Ara, which spans 10km from Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya, was being cleaned in stages with support from the Petaling Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and MBPJ.
“This area has the potential to be more than just a buffer zone. With proper upkeep, it can be turned into a space for jogging, picnics and community events.”
Ocean Hero Conservation patron Tengku Datuk Dr Hishammuddin Zaizi Tengku Azman Shah, who joined the clean-up with non-governmental organisation Earth Warriors Association, said the movement was gaining traction globally.
As part of the day’s activities, DID released 300 lampam (tinfoil barb) fry into the river.
MBPJ also launched a used cooking oil drop-off programme.
The city council will buy oil at RM2.50 per kg at six locations across the city, providing residents with an incentive to dispose of the used oil responsibly.
Also present was MPAJ deputy mayor Aznan Hassan.
