In response to a rise in minor littering offences, around 30,000 public areas and tourist sites nationwide are now being closely monitored, according to Khalid Mohamad, CEO of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp).
Khalid revealed that as of yesterday, 742 individuals had been caught littering, with some already facing penalties while others are still undergoing legal proceedings. He stressed that every case is supported with concrete evidence, including photos and videos captured by officers’ body cameras on-site.
About 500 officers are deployed in rotating shifts, operating both day and night, and not all are in uniform. Some officers blend in as regular pedestrians, food delivery riders, or even wear traditional attire such as sarongs to catch offenders in the act. Monitoring continues until midnight in designated hotspots.
Offences are recorded immediately on-site to expedite investigations and minimise bureaucracy, reducing the need for offenders to make trips to SWCorp offices. Khalid emphasised that strict action is enforced consistently, with no compromises.
Community service is the most common penalty, varying at the court’s discretion. Offenders may be required to perform six to ten hours, with some ordered to complete one to two hours per day, up to a maximum of 12 hours. Recent community service activities in Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor Bahru included sweeping, picking up litter, and cleaning public areas — a practical reminder of the consequences of seemingly small actions.
