By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 6: Sarawak will consider implementing a mandatory community service penalty of up to 12 hours for individuals caught littering, but only if the measure is beneficial to the state, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said.
Dr Sim, who is the Sarawak Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, stressed that Sarawak’s local authorities operate autonomously, and any federal policy must be carefully examined before adoption.
“Local authorities in Sarawak are not under the direct control of Malaysian local authorities because we maintain our own autonomy. However, we will consider anything that is good, but we will not follow things that are not beneficial. That is all I can say.
“Why should we follow something that is not good? We will follow good things as part of the effort to build a better Sarawak, and we will scrutinise matters to see what is appropriate for us to implement,” he said today, as reported by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS).
According to a Bernama report on Sept 27, Malaysian Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that community service orders of up to 12 hours within a six-month period will be imposed on offenders involved in minor littering from Jan 1, 2026.
The implementation of the order will depend on the decision of the Magistrate’s Court, and can be carried out in a single day or divided into several sessions according to the total hours.
“Anyone who litters from their vehicle, throws cigarette butts, tissues, plastics, drink cans or food wrappers in public areas will be required to wear a special vest and pick up small litter in public spaces, clean drains and wash public toilets during the stipulated priod,” he reportedly said. – DayakDaily
