‘Illegal dumping: Be the council’s eyes and ears’

KUCHING: The local council is counting on the public to use their gadgets to record any illegal dumping and thus serve as its eyes and ears.

According to Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Cr Mohamad Taufik Abdul Ghani, the illegal dump site is an eyesore so they want the public to be involved besides the press highlighting the issue.

“If the public happens to witness an act of littering or illegal dumping, snap a picture of the culprit or their car registration number so they can be traced and legal action taken.”

On the illegal dump site at Hup Kee road, Taufik said the dumping is done at a private property where the council does not have the jurisdiction to enter.

“It would be trespassing if the council enters the property to clean up the area,” he told a reporter recently.

The council would investigate and issue a notice for the land owner to clear the area, failing which the council will come in to conduct the cleaning, charged to the landowner. But this makes the land owner the victim as the illegal dumping was done without their knowledge.

“Which is the why we are looking for the perpetrator and for this the council needs public help. This is a joint effort in creating awareness.

“I thank the people’s representative from the opposition who brought up the matter and, as I have said, it is a joint effort to counter such acts regardless of political views and background.

“YB Chong’s home is also my home, I don’t want it to be dirty and we are not pointing finger, let us work together to get it done,” he added.

Taufik said the council would inspect containers of rubbish to find out where it comes from and the perpetrator.

Once traced, the perpetrator can be issued a notice to clean up the area or be fined.