SEREMBAN: An auxiliary policeman and a casual worker have become the first in Negri Sembilan to be charged under a new anti-littering law which came into force on Jan 1.
Mohd Hashim Mohd Nor, 37 and Herrykurniawan, 25, pleaded guilty after they were charged before Sessions Court Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam.
Both were charged with discarding cigarette butts in public spaces.
They were each fined RM600 in default 14 days jail. The duo were also ordered to do six hours of community service within six months.
Mohd Hashim was charged with committing the offence along the walkway near the Nilai bus terminal around 11.30am on Jan 4.
Herrykurniawan was charged with throwing his cigarette butt in a drain in front of a clinic in Bandar Baru Nilai around 1.01am on Jan 1.
They were charged under Section 77A(1) of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
Under the enhanced legislation, culprits caught littering or spitting face a fine of up to RM2,000 and mandatory community service of up to 12 hours, which involves sweeping streets and cleaning drains and public toilets, among other things.
Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) prosecuting officer Siti Adora Rahtimin urged the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the offence.
She said the Act had been amended to allow the authorities to take stern action against litterbugs.
She said the problem was rampant although SWCorp and the authorities had taken measures to educate the public to keep their surroundings clean and to preserve the environment.
In mitigation, Mohd Hashim who was unrepresented pleaded for a minimum fine as he only earned RM2,500 a month and had five people to provide for.
Herrykurniawan also pleaded for the same, adding that he did not have a permanent job.
Judge Mohamad Kamil also reminded the duo that they would be brought back to court if they failed to complete their community service within the given time.
He said they would then be liable to a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000.
When met outside the court later, SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said the agency has since Jan 1 issued 711 notices to those found littering in the seven states covered by the Act.
Of these, 158 are foreigners.
In Negri Sembilan alone, 111 notices have been issued with eight being foreigners.
"We expect the numbers to go up as we are bent on making sure our surroundings are clean.
"We have also received two cases from netizens who managed to capture motorists littering from moving vehicles and we are in the midst of taking action," he added.
On Jan 23, two foreign nationals became the first in the country to be charged under the new law.
