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A SINGAPOREAN man was fined RM1,500 by the Sessions Court here today after he pleaded guilty to discarding a cigarette butt in a public area earlier this month.
Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin imposed the sentence on Mohamed Nuh Qursaini Kayat, 25, as the summoned person, and ordered him to serve one month in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
The court also ordered him to perform four hours of community service within a one-month period.
Mohamed Nuh Qursaini was charged with improperly disposing of solid waste, namely a cigarette butt, in a public place or on a public road instead of using a designated waste disposal facility. The offence occurred near a convenience store along Jalan Bukit Bintang at about 1.45am on January 1, 2026.
The charge was framed under Section 77A(1) of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007, which provides for a maximum fine of RM2,000 and, in addition, a community service order of up to 12 hours in aggregate within a maximum period of six months, subject to a daily limit of four hours as specified by the court.
Earlier, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) prosecuting officer Muhammad Syarihul Mohd Dzahir urged the court to impose a proportionate sentence as a lesson to the accused and the public on the importance of maintaining cleanliness in public spaces.
Unrepresented by counsel, Mohamed Nuh Qursaini appealed for leniency, claiming that there was no rubbish bin in the area at the time of the incident and that he chose to discard the cigarette butt on the ground because there were already cigarette butts on the floor.
Speaking to reporters after the proceedings, SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said that to date, six foreign nationals have been charged in court for littering offences, including the disposal of cigarette butts.
“So far, 644 cases involving littering offences under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 have been recorded, of which 500 involved Malaysian citizens. There are other individuals who will be charged in court on February 10, 11 and 12,” he said.
During a recent Dewan Rakyat sitting, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said that all offenders convicted by the courts for littering offences will undergo Community Service Orders simultaneously on February 13.
He said the offenders would carry out cleaning duties such as clearing drains, sweeping roads and cleaning public toilets, in accordance with their respective court convictions. - February 9, 2026
