KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) cautions the public that it would not hesitate to take action against people who are found to have put up illegal advertisements on public property.
Director-general Junainah Abbie issued the warning after a flurry of posters, which seemed to be meant to shame a couple for alleged involvement in a scam, were unlawfully pasted near Bukit Padang in Lintas here.
Junainah said they viewed the matter seriously and reminded the public against putting up advertising materials without prior approval from DBKK.
“However, we have difficulties in locating the offender as there were no contact numbers included on the posters,” she said when contacted on Wednesday (May 18).
She said such actions were a violation of the city’s Advertisement By-Laws 1983, adding that DBKK had the right to take down such materials under the law.
She added any person found contravening any of the provisions of the rules is also liable to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 and a further RM200 per day in the case of a continuing offence.
A host of A4-sized posters were found lined up across several pillars of a flyover as well as pasted on streetlight poles in Lintas here several days ago.
The posters contained the photo of a man and a woman, with their names and MyKad numbers also printed on them.
Besides that, the word “Penipu” (scammer) could also be seen on the posters.
Sabah Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt G. Moses Govindarajoo had previously advised people who had fallen victim to scams to lodge proper police reports instead of putting up such posters.
He explained that police had received three reports on May 12 from people who claimed they lost more than RM300,000 combined in cheating cases involving the couple depicted on the posters.
Meanwhile, Junainah said they had conducted exercises with the police to bring down illegal advertisements previously.
“Towards this end, we urge the public to cooperate with DBKK by reporting to us if they spot any advertisements that were installed without approval,” she said.
--
