IPOH: Community service sentences for littering offences are expected to be implemented this year, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said repeat offenders might be required to wear special uniforms while cleaning streets, drains, and other public spaces.
ALSO READ: Community service sentence for littering offences in the pipeline
Nga said the first reading of the new law would take place in this Parliament session, with approval expected by March 6 after the debate.
Once passed by Parliament and the Dewan Negara, the law will be gazetted and implemented nationwide.
Repeat offenders will be required to assist local councils by sweeping streets, cleaning drains and even washing public toilets, with a maximum penalty of up to 12 hours.
"If you litter, be prepared to serve a community service sentence in addition to a RM2,000 fine," he said.
ALSO READ: Community service works better for litterbugs than fines, say groups
"We must ensure Malaysia remains clean. It is time for real action—there is no point in having a 'Look East Policy' since the 1980s if we don’t implement real changes. It has been 43 years since we started looking east,” said Nga.
"For those who fail to comply, they will be charged in court," he said after officiating the Woodlands II Madani Recreational Park in Tambun on Sunday (Feb 23).
Nga had said in January that a draft Bill to introduce community service penalties for littering offences would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in March.
Nga said he had seen people standing next to a bin yet throwing their rubbish into the drain, causing clogs and flash floods, and then blaming the government.
"For habitual litterbugs, there will be zero tolerance when it comes to cleanliness," he said.
"This is our collective responsibility. In Malaysia, illiteracy is no longer an excuse. Everyone goes to school for 12 years. Don’t tell me you don’t know how to throw rubbish into a bin."
"Their community service punishment will be made public for awareness and deterrence," he added.
Nga said it did not matter how wealthy someone was; if their mindset is stuck in the Stone Age, that’s unacceptable.
Speaking about the Madani parks, Nga said the ministry would allocate RM10mil to Perak to develop at least 20 new Madani parks.
He said last year, under the ministry’s national policy, they aimed for 100 parks a year and exceeded their target by establishing 109 parks.
"I am committed to building 1,000 parks in 10 years," he said.
On the Woodlands II park, he said a housing developer, Total Investment, contributed RM500,000 towards its setup.
