Latest news with #DrainageandBuildingAct
The Star
23-07-2025
- The Star
Getting tough on litterbugs
No excuses: Nga said the law applies equally to everyone including foreign nationals found guilty of littering in public spaces. — Bernama LITTERBUGS can now be fined up to RM3,000 for repeat offences following the passing of amendments to the Street, Drainage and Building Act. Under the amended law, the fine for a first offence has been raised from RM500 to RM2,000, while second and subsequent offences will carry a penalty of up to RM3,000. The previous limit was RM1,000 for subsequent offences. Pet owners who fail to clean up after their animals would also be liable under the new law, as their waste is considered litter in public. Other new penalties is the introduction of community service as an additional punishment, allowing courts to impose up to 12 hours of unpaid work on minor offences. However, the courts are required to consider the offender's physical and mental condition and explain the consequences of non-compliance to the person. For offenders under the age of 18, subsection 47(1H) of the amended Act stipulates that community service provisions under the Child Act will apply. Clause 3 of the Bill also amends Section 48 to redefine 'child' as a person under 18, and 'community service' as any unpaid work or task aimed at maintaining or enhancing public cleanliness. Clause 4 introduces a new Section 125A, granting powers to authorised officers of local authorities to supervise the implementation of community service orders issued under subsection 47(1A). Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the amendments would complement the recently passed Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill. Under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill, failure to comply with court-ordered community service may result in fines ranging from RM2,000 to RM10,000, as stipulated in subsection 77B(6). As for the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, it will empower the Local Government Department to issue standard operating procedure to all local authorities to ensure uniform implementation of community service sentences for people convicted of littering. All these amendments collectively aim to strengthen the legal framework to combat public littering by authorising courts to issue community service orders as punitive measures, Nga said. He said the law applies equally to everyone including foreign nationals found guilty of littering in public spaces. 'Imagine if a Datuk Seri or Tan Sri is ordered to sweep the streets under a community service order. This would certainly raise public awareness on the importance of maintaining cleanliness,' he said when wrapping up the debate on the amendments. Through the enforcement of such orders, Nga expressed confidence that littering – often the cause of clogged drains and flash floods – could be significantly reduced, especially in urban areas. Nga said that the amendments are necessary to provide the Federal Government with clear legal authority to regulate the matter and empower local authorities to enforce community service penalties effectively. The Street, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill was passed by a majority voice vote after 10 MPs took part in the debate. Nga also announced that starting Jan 1 next year, all shopping malls nationwide will be required to provide recycling facilities at their premises in order to obtain business licences. This new condition will be enforced by local authorities as part of the government's broader push for sustainable waste management.
New Straits Times
30-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Police 'lock down' Selayang buildings, screen 1,435 foreigners
KUALA LUMPUR: A multi-agency raid led by federal police in Selayang saw two buildings "locked down" and 1,435 foreigners screened. The vast majority of those screened were from Myanmar, while others were from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Nepal. Some 160 were children. The raid, dubbed "Op Kachi", began at 10.45pm with 560 personnel, including those from the General Operations Force, Immigration Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and Civil Defence Force, closing off all entry and exit points in Selayang Utara. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department deputy director (General Operations Force) Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi said 225 residential and business units in the two shoplot buildings were raided. "The operation was conducted following two weeks of surveillance based on complaints over the high number of undocumented foreigners in the area. "When we sprang into action last night, some of them even tried to evade our checks by climbing onto rooftops to hide," he told reporters at the scene today. Of those screened, 1,222 were from Myanmar, followed by Bangladesh (142), India (9), Indonesia (4), and Nepal (1). Suzrin said the Myanmar nationals comprised 702 men, 360 women, and 160 children. Many of them were Rohingya holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards. He added that the Immigration Department would verify the authenticity of the UNHCR cards. "I've been told that a number of them have been flagged, as scans of their cards yielded negative results. "They will be brought to the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya for further checks," he said. A number of foreigners were subsequently detained, though details were not immediately available. Suzrin said they would also be taking further action against those found employing foreigners without proper permits, as well as individuals providing shelter to undocumented migrants. He added that personnel from the Energy Commission, National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and Tenaga Nasional Berhad who joined the raid also uncovered illegal renovations and unauthorised water and electricity connections in the buildings. "Various offences have been detected under the Electricity Supply Act, Street, Drainage and Building Act, and Local Government Act. Further investigations and enforcement action will be taken by the relevant authorities," he said. This is the second time Bukit Aman has launched a crackdown by locking down an entire area known to be populated by foreigners. In December 2023, over 1,000 officers and members of the GOF surrounded the "Mini Dhaka" area in Jalan Silang.
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- New Straits Times
5 people fined for feeding pigeons in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) fined five people RM250 each last month for feeding pigeons in public areas. The five face legal action if they continue to feed pigeons or fail to pay the fine for placing waste in a public area, an offence under Section 47(1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act. "They were found to have deliberately thrown food waste to feed the pigeons," the council said in a Facebook post. The council said that despite repeated reminders, some members of the public continued to feed pigeons, complicating efforts to control the bird population. It said council workers recently captured 818 pigeons from various hotspots during a recent operation. It also destroyed 36 crow nests last month. Several locations around the city have been identified as popular pigeon-feeding spots, including Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Lorong Stewart, Jalan Penang, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah near Padang Kota Lama, Lebuh King and Lebuh Pantai. Warning signs have been put up in these areas to curb bird feeding, but some people continue to do so.
