Cleaning up one’s act: Argument over community service for litterbugs
by Sidi Munan · Borneo Post OnlineTHE person caught littering is required ‘to wear a special vest while picking up litter in public places, clearing drains as a form of penalty, and washing public toilets’.
I wasn’t sure that such a move was true so I called my ‘kaki’ (colloquial Malay term for ‘buddy’) in Kuala Lumpur to check.
He confirmed that the federal Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) had indeed decided to introduce community service as a punishment imposed on litterbugs in Peninsular Malaysia, with effect from Jan 1, 2026.
In Sarawak, our Deputy Premier cum Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, reacted rather philosophically with this comment: “Any good things we will consider, and any bad things we will not follow” (thesundaypost – Dec 7, 2025).
In Sarawak, we do it our way!
We should pick and choose and, if I may humbly add, devise and innovate.
Let’s do it our way ‘lah’!
Before the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, there had been local authorities in Sarawak as early as 1948, at the levels of municipality, division and district.
Each local authority passed its own bylaws in terms of regulating the collection and the disposal of rubbish in public places in the territory under its jurisdiction.
Before we copy or adopt ideas from the federal ministry, we should first of all review the existing bylaws and other regulations to see if there is a need for improvement in terms of penalty for littering in public.
Little is known about action taken by any council to enforce bylaws in relation to rubbish collection and disposal.
Has anybody heard about a litterbug being penalised?
I have not!
I have seen trash at some spots like bus stops, behind shophouses, in open drains, as well as in creeks and rivers, especially near bridges.
The new Pan Borneo Highway passes through the territories of many local councils.
What a shame!
The relevant councils are meant to supervise the collection and disposal of rubbish.
Do they actually do it?
The federal KPKT has decided to resort to community service as a form of punishment for littering in Peninsular Malaysia, which is to shame and humiliate the bug in question.
Sarawak reserves the right to pick the most effective method.
I have another idea for handling the problem of punishing litterbugs.
I would prefer a soft approach, which I think is more humane.
The aim is not to penalise, but to educate.
Littering is a deviant behaviour in breach of ordinary social norms.
It is not an offence against the state or against the King, like the crimes listed in the Penal Code.
Do not punish the litterbug for the rest of his life for anti-social behaviour.
The stigma of a ‘punishment jacket’ will last long, and is not necessary.
I don’t approve of such vests, whatever the colour.
Go for discipline: first time a person caught littering in public, he is censured quietly; second time, he is to be publicised on social media; and third, he may be exposed on social media as being ‘incorrigible’.
Let him learn from his own mistakes – always tell him that there is every possibility of rehabilitation.
Secondly, with cooperation of the Education authority, introduce lessons to schools on the importance of a healthy environment.
Again, littering should not be treated as an offence; littering is a bad habit, a deviance in social behaviour disapproved by the ordinary members of the community.
A type of sickness, if you like, which is curable given the right treatment: human kindness, and understanding.
I don’t think cleaning the public toilets is a suitable punishment for littering.
Think of yourself as a member of his family – how would you feel?
A disgrace to his family and friends; that disapproval of the family and friends is enough punishment.
Do not treat a litterbug as a common criminal.
The process to secure conviction of a suspect is long and tedious at the expense of the taxpayers.
Treat the litterbug as one being antisocial, not a dangerous offender to warrant the wearing of a special vest while cleaning the ‘longkang’ (drains) and the public toilets.
We all agree that littering is a bad human habit: at home, at school, at the workplace, while travelling.
Plastic and food wrappers must be nicely placed in bags to be disposed of together at the next stop, not chucked out of the car window.
Each council should place rubbish bins at each designated stop, and clear them regularly.
The bus company should insist on disciplining the passengers.
The driver or attendant should inform the passengers that littering is not permitted inside the bus, neither is throwing stuff out of the window.
And of course, there are rubbish bins on the bus.
I suggest that we, in Sarawak, opt for a deterrent rather than a penalty.
Of course, the publicity one offender gets for wearing the vest and cleaning the public toilets would make a first litterbug think twice to chuck out the plastic bag out of his car.
Go for a social sanction rather than a penalty that carries a negative stigma.
Forgive the first-time offender, coupled with a warning to not repeat this anti-social act.
That’s my idea on the topic, anyway.
I am aware that some people could not care less if they make a mess; hopefully, we could ‘re-educate’ them.
But the real improvement will only start when the young generation has been brought up not to throw rubbish anywhere, anytime.
Picking up rubbish in the playground used to be a school punishment.
The aim of good education should be that there is no rubbish on the playground to pick up, because every boy and girl has disposed of their lunch wrappings and banana skins in the proper garbage can.