MELAKA: Littering of cigarette butts remains the main offence committed by the public, with more than 1,700 cases recorded out of a total of 2,154 notices issued as of April 7, says Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp).
Its CEO Khalid Mohamed said the statistics showed that awareness among smokers to respect cleanliness remains unsatisfactory.
“Of the total number of cases, discarding cigarette butts continues to record the highest number of offences recorded, which showed that a lackadaisical attitude towards public cleanliness still persist.
“This shows that the level of awareness, particularly among smokers, can still be improved,” he said here yesterday.
Earlier, three men were fined between RM500 and RM700 and ordered to perform community service by the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to littering in public places.
The case is the first prosecution in Melaka under Section 77A of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
Mohamad Faez Sahli, 28, Yeo Hong Huat, 57, and K. Danesh, 29, made the plea after the charges were read out before Judge Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin.
Khalid said that although cigarette butt litter seemed minor, this has a significant impact on environmental cleanliness and the nation’s image.
“This act not only pollutes public areas but also reflects a level of discipline in society that still needs to be improved,” he said.
The excuse that there were a lack of rubbish bins is unacceptable, he said, as observations found that such facilities are usually located near where the offences had occurred.
“In some cases, rubbish bins are within two to three metres of the offenders, yet they still choose to discard cigarette butts indiscriminately,” he said.
