Johor government to beef up anti-littering by-laws

JOHOR BAHRU – With more than 1,000 instances of enforcement action taken against litterbugs in the first five months of 2025, the Johor government wants to prioritise public cleanliness by strengthening anti-littering by-laws.

State housing and local government committee chairman Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said a special meeting was recently held to review current laws and enhance enforcement efforts in all local councils.

“Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s decree is very clear,” said Datuk Jafni on June 14.

“Littering, especially in rivers and public spaces, is an irresponsible act that harms the environment and drains public funds.

“Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has also instructed immediate and coordinated action to address this issue, which has long plagued both urban and rural areas.”

Mr Jafni criticised the careless behaviour of some individuals, noting that public money meant for development and services is being diverted to unnecessary clean-up operations.

“This isn’t just inconsiderate; it’s uncivilised. The lack of civic responsibility is costing us all,” he said.

He pledged to personally coordinate a stricter and more comprehensive enforcement strategy, adopting a zero-compromise approach to cleanliness.

Among the proposals discussed were updates to the 2024 amendments to the Cleanliness Prevention by-laws and a stricter application of Section 47 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which allows offenders to be fined up to RM500 (S$150) for littering in public spaces.

Mr Jafni said the effectiveness of enforcement methods was also reviewed, including patrols in littering hot spots, the use of body-worn cameras and mobile ticketing devices, as well as collaboration with auxiliary police and other enforcement agencies.

Between January and May 2025, more than 1,000 actions were taken, including 181 compound notices in May alone, totalling RM161,500 in fines.

“While these numbers reflect our continued efforts, they will mean little if we fail to shift the public mindset. Enforcement alone will not solve the problem,” Mr Jafni said.

To that end, Johor is looking to adopt best practices from countries such as Singapore and Japan, where stiff fines, community service sentences and plain-clothes patrols play a major role in maintaining public hygiene.

“It’s time we adopted these proven methods. A clean culture must be backed by firm, visible and consistent enforcement,” Mr Jafni added.

In parallel, he said, the state government is also working on a civic education plan and integrated awareness campaigns to instil greater responsibility among residents, especially the younger generation.

He said these initiatives will be rolled out in schools, night markets, bazaars, residential areas and business premises.

“Public engagement will be supported through additional warning signboards, social media outreach and partnerships with the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation and community-led teams such as the Johor Bahru City Council anti-litter squad,” he said.

He said local councils have been told to improve their public complaints systems, speed up offender detection and strengthen inter-agency coordination to ensure faster responses.

Looking ahead, he proposed that cleanliness be made a key performance indicator in all local authority budgets for 2026.

“As a government that honours Tunku Ismail’s decree and remains committed to the Maju Johor agenda, we cannot compromise when it comes to cleanliness and environmental care,” he said, referring to the state’s economic vision.

“A clean and dignified Johor is our collective duty, not just in words, but in real, visible action.” THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK