logo
Courts to weigh physical, mental state before ordering littering community service

Courts to weigh physical, mental state before ordering littering community service

KUALA LUMPUR: The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill 2025 allows the court to consider the physical and mental condition of those convicted of littering before issuing community service orders.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said under the amendment, the court must also explain to those convicted the implications of the community service order and the consequences of failing to comply with it.
He said the proposed implementation of the measure would be through the introduction of Section 77B, which involves eight new subsections under it.
"It also requires any authorised officer, following a community service order issued by the court to determine the time and place for the community service to be carried out, as well as the type of service to be performed.
"The officer is also responsible for informing the convicted person of the time, place and type of community service to be undertaken," he said when tabling the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Bill (Amendment) 2025 for its second reading in Dewan Rakyat.
The amendment would see litterbugs be made to clean drains, sweep roads and wash public toilets alongside cleaners engaged by local authorities.
Those who failed to comply with a community service order would be committing an offence and, upon conviction, be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000.
Nga said the amendment to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act was aimed at addressing the disposal of litters such as cigarette butts, tissues, plastic, drink cans, food wrappers and similar items.
"The habit of indiscriminately disposing of solid waste or small litter among the public, particularly as the nation rapidly advances in physical development, is a matter of concern.
"While the government continues to enhance solid waste management services annually, fostering a culture of cleanliness remains a challenge without a shift in public mindset.
"As such, the amendment to the act is crucial to instilling greater civic responsibility, increasing public awareness, and nurturing a culture of cleanliness, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable Malaysia."
A total of 14 members of parliament are set to take part in the debate.
Nation Feb 23, 2025 @ 3:10am
Litterbugs beware: Community service penalty expected to begin this year
Nation Feb 28, 2025 @ 6:47am
Parliamentary Services Act to enable "hybrid" administrative model
Nation Feb 28, 2025 @ 6:32am
'New Parliamentary Services Act won't negatively impact parliament staff'
Nation Feb 8, 2025 @ 4:49am
SWCorp to appoint company to review waste management in Penang - Chow
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prof: Sabah is still struggling on basic needs
Prof: Sabah is still struggling on basic needs

Daily Express

timea few seconds ago

  • Daily Express

Prof: Sabah is still struggling on basic needs

Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Nga highlighted that playing up issues of race, religion and region during elections, saying it risks dividing the people. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is still struggling to fulfil the basic needs of its people despite the nation having passed through various stages of development, said Social and Youth Policy expert of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Associate Professor Dr Janice Nga. She said input gathered during the recent Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) showed many Sabahans are still grappling with fundamental issues, those at the bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy. 'This shows we're still lagging behind. It's not about fixing roads just before VIP visits and leaving them to fall apart later. 'If we are serious, we must ask: When will this road be completed? How many more communities will get basic utilities?' she said. She also pointed out that sincere leadership, not just plans, makes a difference, noting that Sarawak's progress came from administrative consistency and integrity. 'Sabah was ahead once, but now Sarawak has overtaken us because their leadership was consistent from the Chief Minister to the Premier. That's the key,' she said. Nga highlighted that playing up issues of race, religion and region during elections, saying it risks dividing the people. 'In Sabah, our issue isn't race or religion, but it's regionalism. We often hear 'Sabahan' versus 'non-Sabahan' being used like there are invisible borders within our own state,' she said. She also emphasised that some leaders fear empowering the rakyat, worrying that once people become self-reliant, they'll no longer need political crutches. 'There are leaders who want the rakyat to remain dependent. Because once united and independent, the people might no longer support them,' Nga said. Nga called for unity based on shared aspirations rather than identity politics and said sincerity should be the benchmark, not a leader's place of birth. 'If someone from the peninsula is genuine about helping Sabah, why not? Just like the Inpuma team that came not for personal gain, but to contribute,' she added. She urged the public not to fall for political rhetoric that undermines leadership integrity for the sake of votes. 'A good leader, no matter where they come from, they can bring good to Sabah,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Enforcement Action Not Main Approach To Address PLKN 3.0 Absenteeism
Enforcement Action Not Main Approach To Address PLKN 3.0 Absenteeism

Barnama

time18 minutes ago

  • Barnama

Enforcement Action Not Main Approach To Address PLKN 3.0 Absenteeism

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry does not rely primarily on enforcement to address absenteeism among National Service Training Programme 3.0 (PLKN 3.0) participants, instead opting for more effective approaches that raise awareness and cultivate interest. Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said participants cited health issues, studies and job commitments as among the reasons for their absence and that the ministry would continue to engage with them to address the matter. He said PLKN 3.0 prioritised providing space and opportunities for the younger generation to join the programme based on their readiness and ability, in line with its flexible and phased implementation. 'For example, in the second series of PLKN 3.0, some of those who were absent have expressed readiness to take part in the third series. We are adopting an awareness-based approach and working to resolve the related issues. 'The approach of using the Act (National Service Training Act) is a last resort. As long as we can still have discussions and raise awareness, I believe that should be our priority,' he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He said this in response to a supplementary question from Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH–Ledang) on the issue of absenteeism among PLKN 3.0 participants. According to Adly, as of July, two training series had been conducted involving 560 trainees, from the total target of 1,200 participants for 2025. He added that 116 trainees participated in the first series and 444 in the second, while the third series, scheduled for September, is expected to involve 640 participants. Meanwhile, responding to a question from Nordin Ahmad Ismail (PN–Lumut) on employment opportunities for Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans with the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Adly said the government was looking into the proposal.

Malaysia's fiscal stability will be jeopardised if SST expansion deferred, says PM
Malaysia's fiscal stability will be jeopardised if SST expansion deferred, says PM

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Malaysia's fiscal stability will be jeopardised if SST expansion deferred, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The nation's fiscal stability would be jeopardised if the proposed expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) were deferred, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister stated that such a move would result in the government missing its revenue target and impact its ability to fulfil its responsibilities towards the rakyat. "The revision of the sales tax rate and the expansion of the SST scope, which took effect on July 1, is expected to generate additional revenue of RM5bil over the six months of this year 2025 and RM10bil in 2026," he said in a written parliamentary reply to a question raised by Lim Guan Eng (PN-Bagan) in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 24). Lim had asked whether the SST expansion could be deferred in light of the United States tariffs and the current economic slowdown. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the nation's fiscal position through tax reforms. He emphasised that this was crucial in ensuring sustainable revenue to support development and social programs, despite growing public concern over the rising cost of living. He noted several measures implemented to cushion the impact of the SST on the rakyat and businesses. Among them, he cited the RM13bil allocation for STR/SARA cash aid programs, up from RM10bil compared to 2024. He also mentioned the increased allocation for the Education Ministry, from RM59bil last year to RM64bil in 2025. He added that the allocation for the Health Ministry was increased from RM41bil to RM45bil, which would aid in hiring contract doctors. Service tax exemptions will be granted to tenants classified as small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with annual sales of less than RM1mil. For construction service providers, the threshold for service tax compliance has been increased from RM500,000 to RM1.5mil over 12 months, to ease the compliance burden on smaller contractors. This same threshold applies to small-scale private healthcare clinics to protect them from undue tax pressure. Regarding the breakdown of the additional tax revenue, particularly those borne by locals and foreigners as requested by Lim, Anwar said this was not possible. He explained that it was not feasible to accurately determine such a breakdown because the national revenue collection system does not categorise contributions based on the taxpayer's citizenship.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store