SMC to enforce the law to penalise litterbugs

SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) will implement the Compulsory Attendance Order Act 1954 on anti-littering offenders who ignore or refuse to pay their compound.

Its chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said the council had issued 449 anti-littering compounds between January and June this year but fewer than 50 per cent of the offenders had paid up.

The RM500 compound was enforced on July 1 last year to curb littering within the council’s jurisdiction.

He said failure to comply with and/or refuse to pay the compound would result in court actions being taken against the offenders.

“This Act is imposed by the court upon conviction of an offender, that is, anti-littering for alternative imprisonment if the offender chooses to carry out community service if he or she fails to pay the fine.

“Types of community service that can be imposed are to sweep litters at the council’s buildings or parks, clean or wash the council’s public toilets, sweep around religious buildings and any other community services deemed fit and necessary,” he told a full council meeting here yesterday.

Tiong added that the parole unit of Prison Department would monitor the implementation of the Act while the court would make an order that the offender carry out the community service of four hours per day for a maximum of three months.

If the offender fails to report to the parole unit, warrant of arrest would be issued against the offender, he said.

“The offender will be given a special uniform when carrying out the community service and wide publicity will be given to educate the offender and the public.

“The publicity is not to cause shame or punish the offender but to cultivate awareness of civicmindedness among the public at large not to litter as even a cigarette butt in public places,” he added.

A discount would be given if the offender pays the compound before he or she is brought to court, Tiong said.

He added that once the offender has received the court order, he or she would have to pay the full amount of the compound of RM500 or carry out community service as ordered.

“This is in line with the antilittering enforcement activity to ensure no offenders is spared from being penalised for such irresponsible behaviour.

“By imposing more severe fine and stricter enforcement, hopefully Sibu cwuld be a zerolitter town, and be a pleasant and liveable town,” he said.

Tiong added that the council was considering a similar law in penalizing motorists for indiscriminate parking.

“Illegal parking has become a perennial problem here,” he lamented.