KUALA LUMPUR: Litterbugs might soon face mandatory cleanup duties under proposed amendments to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
These changes would enable courts to enforce community service orders alongside current fines for offenders.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the move aims to curb littering.
“The amendments empower the courts to impose community service orders as an additional penalty, alongside existing fines,” he told Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 21).
The proposed new subsection 77B(1) provides for courts to order offenders to perform up to 12 hours of community service. Courts must also take into account the offender’s physical and mental condition, explain the implications of the order and inform them of the consequences of failing to comply.
Under subsections 77B(4) and (5), the enforcement and supervision of community service orders will be carried out by authorised officers and regulated under Act 672. Failure to comply may result in a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000, as stipulated in subsection 77B(6).
The amendments also expand the definition of “solid waste” to include not only broken, worn-out or contaminated items, but also those still in good condition, such as plastic bags and bottles.
The Bill further makes it an offence to litter in public spaces or on public roads, punishable by a fine of up to RM2,000. The definition of “public road” includes federal and state roads, residential streets, highways, bridges, tunnels and other connected infrastructure maintained by public authorities or private entities.
For juvenile offenders, community service provisions under the Child Act 2001 will apply. A “child” is defined as anyone under the age of 18, while “community service” refers to unpaid work intended to maintain or improve public cleanliness.
