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THE introduction of community service orders for repeat littering offenders is being widely viewed as an appropriate deterrent, but experts caution that punitive measures alone will not resolve Malaysia’s long-standing cleanliness problems.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that while penalties involving public exposure or community service for habitual offenders are long overdue, they do not necessarily lead to a lasting shift in public attitudes towards littering.
According to Lee, effective enforcement must be complemented by a strong foundation of civic awareness, which he said should be instilled from a young age if the country is to cultivate a society that respects public spaces.
“Even if you keep imposing fines on them (offenders), they don’t bother. Some might pay, some don’t. This acts more as a deterrent for certain people, but it is still not the solution to the problem. The solution lies in education, and it must be emphasised, beginning from school,” he told Bernama.
His comments follow a final reminder issued on Saturday by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who said that community service orders for littering offences will take effect from January 1, 2026, as part of stricter enforcement measures in public areas.
Nga said enforcement officers have been instructed to implement the new provisions, which are aimed at strengthening public cleanliness and civic responsibility nationwide.
“Anyone, including foreigners, who throws rubbish in public places will be fined RM2,000 and sentenced to 12 hours of public cleansing work,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page.
Lee agreed that public service work can be an effective way to instil discipline among recalcitrant offenders who are undeterred by fines, but he warned that the success of the policy will depend heavily on fair and consistent enforcement.
He added that local authorities must support the ministry’s initiative by ensuring adequate manpower is deployed on the ground to enforce the orders effectively.
Pointing to Japan as a model, Lee said the country’s success in maintaining public cleanliness is driven less by strict laws and more by a deeply ingrained mindset cultivated from childhood.
“In Japan, when you walk along the streets, you will find that there are hardly any rubbish bins. People there have reached a stage where if they have waste paper with them, they simply keep it in their pocket until they find a proper place to dispose of it,” he said.
Lee also stressed the importance of personal integrity, noting that responsible behaviour should not depend on the presence of enforcement officers.
“Civic education is the key to all this, and there is no better place to instil it than in schools - to teach children from a young age to care for and love the environment, and not to do anything that would pollute it,” he added. - December 29, 2025
