Majlis Perbandaran Klang going after the litterbugs

Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK) has deployed a team of plainclothes officers to take on the litterbugs around Klang.

MPK’s Environmental Services Department enforcement division recently conducted an operation to catch the litterbugs, mainly at the Klang bus station, Jalan Pos Baru.

The Star reported the location is “a hotspot for littering”.

MPK enforcement officer in charge of the anti-litter squad Aswarizal Mohd Wazib told The Star that the officer would approach those caught littering and identify themselves as the enforcement officers before issuing on-the-spot fines of RM10.

“It is tough at times as people refuse to pay the fine. In such cases, we get them to pick up litter for five minutes and give them a warning,” he explained.

Meanwhile, MPK Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin told The Star that the council wants “a litter-free town”.

“Our move to fine litterbugs or enforce on-the-spot community service to pick up litter is to cultivate civic-mindedness,” he said.

MPK impose penalties under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Section 133) and the Collection of Litter and Disposal of Garbage (MPK) by-laws 1984.

“We have placed rubbish bins at the bus stations, but people choose to discard cigarette butts, used tissues and food wrappers on the ground.

“In the past, we gave verbal warnings, but we decided to take a tough stand now,” Zaireezal explained.

He said that rubbish bins were often easily accessible, but people still choose to litter.

Zaireezal added that litterbugs do not realise that ratepayers bore the clean-up cost.

According to the same report, from January to Sept 18 this year, 93 littering offenders were fined, while MPK enforcement officers made 53 of the offenders pick up litter at the bus station area.

Eight enforcement officers, plainclothes staff and several KDEB Waste Management cleaners monitor the area to ensure the North Klang Bus terminal, its roads and five-foot-ways are clean.