PENANG should instal rubbish booms at all major rivers and critical storm drains instead of relying on punitive measures to tackle littering, says Bagan MCA division secretary Chan Wooi Jin.
He said rubbish booms, similar to those in Sungai Pinang, should be deployed statewide together with regular rubbish collection to prevent waste from clogging waterways and worsening flash floods.
While supporting the state’s enforcement of the Community Service Order (CSO) against litterbugs, Chan said Penang government must also show it was doing its part by keeping rivers and drains clean.
“Maintaining environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility, but environmental management is equally the government’s responsibility.”
He added that this included providing adequate rubbish bins, improving waste collection services, carrying out regular river and drain cleaning, and stepping up environmental education.
Chan said reports of rubbish accumulating in rivers, including Sungai Perai, suggested the problem had built up over many years.
He said Seberang Perai City Council should ascertain whether clogged drains were caused solely by indiscriminate waste disposal, or by fallen branches and leaf litter washed into the drainage system during heavy rain.
“The public wants to know how many river-cleaning operations have been carried out over the years, how much funding has been allocated and whether the relevant agencies have been cleaning rivers and drains regularly.”
He said enforcement alone would not clear away years of accumulated rubbish.
He urged the state government to expand river-cleaning efforts, publish maintenance schedules and progress reports, improve waste collection services and encourage greater public participation in environmental protection.
Starting July, Penang began enforcing the CSO for littering offences. Offenders convicted by the courts may be fined up to RM2,000, ordered to perform up to 12 hours of community service within six months, or both.
