JOHOR BARU: Two foreign nationals are the first in the country to be charged under the new anti-littering law.
A 49-year-old Indonesian woman became the first person in Malaysia to be fined RM500 and sentenced to six hours of community service for littering in public.
Odd-job worker Anita Lukman pleaded guilty before the Sessions Court here yesterday to throwing a cigarette butt and a drink bottle onto the pavement at Jalan Ibrahim Sultan in Stulang Laut at about 12.41am on Jan 1.
The charge was framed under Sub-section 77A(1) of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672).
Anita, who was unrepresented, asked for a lighter punishment, saying that she is a single mother and has to care for two children.
“I am only helping my friend with odd jobs, and my children, aged eight and 15, will risk skipping school if I do not send enough money home.
“I admit my mistake and promise not to repeat it.”
Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) prosecuting officer Siti Adora Rahtimin asked for a suitable punishment as a lesson to the accused and to set a public example.
Sessions judge Nor Aziati Jaafar ordered Anita to pay a fine of RM500 in default 15 days’ imprisonment and ordered her to serve six hours of community service within six months of the sentence
She has to serve up to two hours a day, or risk being fined RM2,000 to RM10,000 if she fails.
In separate proceedings, Bangladesh national Sultan Md, 28, was charged with a similar offence, which he committed in the same area at around 1.27am on Jan 1.
However, the factory worker requested a Bangladeshi translator as he did not fully understand the charge.
The court allowed the request and set Jan 28 for next mention, before setting bail at RM1,000 with a Malaysian surety.
Meanwhile, SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said a total of 418 littering notices have been issued against locals and foreigners nationwide from Jan 1 until 22.
Kuala Lumpur, Kedah and Negri Sembilan are among locations with the highest number of littering notices issued after Act 672 came into effect on Jan 1.
“Kuala Lumpur tops the list with 127 notices, followed by Kedah (99), Negri Sembilan (61), Johor (58), Pahang (30) and Melaka (24),” he told reporters at the court complex here yesterday.
He said 315 of the notices were issued against locals while 103 notices were given to foreigners.
He added that SWCorp has also received permission from the deputy public prosecutor’s office to charge 99 of the offenders, where 15 of the cases will be brought to court in the coming weeks.
Offenders may be fined up to RM2,000, and the court may also impose a Community Service Order of up to six months, involving work not exceeding 12 hours in total.
“SWCorp will then determine the types of community service for the offenders based on their sentence and physical capabilities. These range from waste disposal to sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning toilets, cutting grass and painting buildings,” added Khalid.
