Cigarette butts remain the main source of littering offences in Malaysia, making up more than 1,700 of the 2,154 Notices of Offence issued by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) as of April 7.
SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said the figures reflect a worrying level of public awareness on cleanliness, particularly among smokers.
“This shows that awareness of cleanliness, especially among smokers, can still be improved,” he told reporters after proceedings at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court.
At the same court session, three local men were fined between RM500 and RM700 each and ordered to carry out 10 to 12 hours of community service after pleading guilty to disposing of cigarette butts in public areas.
Khalid stressed that although cigarette butt littering is often seen as minor, it has a serious impact on environmental cleanliness and the country’s image.
He also dismissed common excuses such as a lack of rubbish bins, saying inspections frequently show bins are already available near the offence locations.
“In some cases, rubbish bins are just two to three metres away, yet offenders still choose to dispose of cigarette butts irresponsibly,” he said.
He added that increased enforcement operations had contributed to the rise in recorded cases, including a noticeable spike in the first week of April compared to the previous month.
SWCorp said it will continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement efforts, especially in public hotspots, to curb such offences.
Members of the public are also encouraged to report cases of improper cigarette butt disposal to assist authorities in taking action.
