By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Sept 26: Think twice before dumping rubbish, garden waste or bulky items anywhere in Kuching, as offenders can face a fine of up to RM2,000 and imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said keeping the city clean was not solely the responsibility of the council, but a shared responsibility among residents, businesses and communities.
“While we have contractors to handle the cleanup, the most important thing is for individuals to be responsible and not throw rubbish everywhere. We shouldn’t let anyone ruin our image, especially since we are one of the cleanest cities,” he said when speaking to reporters at the Hari Cuci Malaysia 2026 in conjunction with World Cleanup Day near Jalan Padungan here today.
Wee said maintaining Kuching’s clean-city status required everyone to uphold the standard of having no rubbish on the streets.
He said illegal dumping of garden waste and bulky items remained an issue, with some residents moving their unwanted waste elsewhere to dispose of it.
“This is entirely unfair. Waste is waste, so don’t be selfish and dump it on someone else’s property. There are heavy penalties for this, including a fine of RM2,000 and possible imprisonment,” he said.
Wee stressed that cleanliness should not be treated as an annual campaign, but as a daily responsibility that starts at home and is reinforced through schools and communities.
“If you know how to keep your house clean, I’m sure you can know how to keep our city clean also,” he added.
Meanwhile, he reminded food and beverage (F&B) operators to dispose of grease trap waste properly to prevent clogged drains and river pollution.
He said clogged drains could also create unpleasant smells around F&B premises and affect customers’ perception of the business.
Efforts to improve drainage and reduce flooding would be futile if people continued dumping waste into drains, he added.
Wee said MBKS continued to issue warnings and take action against premises over hygiene and cleanliness issues. — DayakDaily
