FOR weeks, newly planted shrubs outside a restaurant at Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Little India in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, has been wilting, their green leaves turning brown.
The first clue was pools of what appeared to be curry around the bushes.
Anjappar Indian Chettinad restaurant manager S. Thirumaran said the thick foliage hid the extent of the mess.
Only by parting the leaves could workers see the stagnant reddish liquid pooled beneath.
Puzzled by the dying plants and food residue, he checked the restaurant’s closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage.
He said it showed an individual dumping oil and food waste into the bushes and nearby drains at about 2.30am last week.
Angered by what he saw, Thirumaran continued checking the footage.
Two days later, he said, the same individual did it again.
“I am shocked that anyone would dispose of food waste so irresponsibly.”
Thirumaran said he suspected the waste came from food truck operators in Little India.
“Our restaurant and others along this stretch close at about 10.30pm to 11pm.
“This happened at about 2.30am, which makes me suspect it could be someone from the food trucks operating nearby, catering to the supper crowd.”
He urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to investigate and identify those responsible.
Another retail outlet owner along the same stretch, who declined to be identified, also complained of food waste being dumped in the area.
Brickfields Business Community Society secretary Datuk Alagarsamy Kumar said members would be asked to check their CCTV footage also to establish the culprit.
“We will share our findings with DBKL,” he said.
He expressed disappointment over the lack of consideration for those living and working there.
“Keeping Little India clean is everyone’s responsibility. If we live or earn our living here, we should take pride in looking after the place.”
Alagarsamy also reminded street vendors of their waste disposal obligations.
“Closing for the day does not mean you can simply tip your leftovers into the nearest drain.
“Vendors must follow the waste disposal requirements that apply to their businesses. Dumping food waste into public drains is against the law.”
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu urged DBKL to use its CCTV network to investigate the dumping.
“DBKL has 10,000 CCTV cameras across the city, with millions spent on the system.
“It should check footage from cameras covering this stretch to help identify those responsible and establish whether this is happening elsewhere,” he said.
“Business owners have already found evidence using their own cameras.
“DBKL should use the resources available to investigate and take action,” added Naidu.
A spokesperson for DBKL’s Health and Environment Department said the department was aware of the alleged dumping and was investigating.
“We have sent a team to check the site and will provide an update once we have more information.”
DBKL’s licensing guidelines require hawkers to provide sufficient covered rubbish bins and dispose of waste at authorised locations.
Dumping food waste into public drains is an offence under Section 47(1)(d) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
Separately, the new anti-litter provisions under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, which came into force on Jan 1, 2026, provide for a fine of up to RM2,000 and a court-ordered community service term of up to 12 hours, to be completed within six months.
