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SOME 661 litterbugs at commercial centres and towns within City Hall’s rating area collectively paid RM13,200 in on-the-spot compounds issued as part of the agency’s “Ops Bersih” checks over the past six months.

A spokesman for its Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) said about 130 errant members of the public, including smokers, were taken to task over the past two months under City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2005).

“Seventy four of them were upbraided in May, with the remainder in June,” he said. 

He the first group of individuals paid a total of RM1,460 in penalties, while the latter paid RM1,120.

“The wrong-doers were caught red-handed not disposing of their garbage properly into a bin,” he said. “Instead, they threw their cigarette butts and other rubbish haphazardly into their surroundings.

The spokesman said a compound of up to RM500 could be imposed in such circumstances per the conditions stipulated in the agency’s Anti-Litter By-Laws.

Those who repeatedly disregarded the agency’s calls to refrain from littering in the common areas, on the other hand, could have legal action brought against them, according to him.

“They will become liable to a fine for as much as RM10, 000, if they are found guilty in court.”

He said four to five SWMD inspectors in plain clothes carried out 58 separate inspections between May 10 and June 30.

These checks involved properties within the City Centre, as well as those in areas ranging from Telipok to the shophouses near Taman Fortuna, according to him.

The spokesman said those in Kota Kinabalu, included the shophouses in Bandaran Berjaya, Kg Air, Sinsuran and Segama, as well as Centre Point Sabah. Checks were also made of the public areas on Jalan Gaya and Jalan Tugu, according to him.

“The highest number of litterbugs was nabbed around Kg Air (16), followed by Segama (12) and Centre Point (11).

When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the SWMD team went to Inanam and Manggatal towns, as well as several commercial centres including Damai Plaza, Plaza Juta, Kingfisher Plaza, Inanam Taipan, Manggatal Plaza, Bandar Putra, Indah Permai, Sulaman Sentral and Synergy Square. 

On top of this, inspections were also carried out at Mini Putrajaya and the shops at Universiti Apartment, according to him.

“Inanam town and Taipan tied for the locations with the most offenders, in this instance, with a total of 17 litter-bugs caught in these areas.

“This was followed by Damai Plaza and Bandar Putra, where eight individuals and another six were respectively nabbed. 

The spokesman said City Hall collected about RM1, 540 in March and a further RM1, 120 in April.

“About 133 wrong-doers settled their compounds right away during this period, while nine others elected to do this within the allotted grace-period.”

He said SWMD inspectors made 52 separate inspections between March 3 and April 28.

He said the agency pocketed a total of RM5, 100 in compounds in January and a further RM2, 860 in February.

“A total of 432 litterbugs were caught between January 3 and February 26.

“About 398 of them paid up immediately, while 34 others wanted to settle their penalties before the grace-period for their compounds expired.”

He said 90 separate checks were conducted by the Department’s personnel in the first two months of the year.