Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming says 754 individuals have been identified for littering offences, with 478 to be charged and 15 already sentenced to clean public areas.

IPOH: Authorities have identified 754 individuals nationwide for littering offences under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the figure includes foreign nationals.

He stated that 478 individuals from that total will be charged in court following the enforcement of community service orders which began on January 1. Nga confirmed that 15 offenders sentenced by the court began serving their orders yesterday.

READ MORE: Littering convicts to serve community service nationwide

“They have been sentenced and ordered to sweep streets, clean drains and public toilets for four hours,” he said. The minister added that this work must be completed within a six-month period.

Nga emphasised that maintaining cleanliness is both a civic duty and a matter of faith. “We need to ensure that Malaysia is clean, free from infectious diseases and the people live prosperously,” he said in his speech.

The minister was speaking at the Tambun parliamentary-level Sumbangan Kasih MADANI programme at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Yuk Choy. The event was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and held in conjunction with Chinese New Year and Ramadan celebrations.

Nga had earlier stated that all offenders convicted of littering would commence their community service simultaneously from February 13. Each offender will serve their sentence by cleaning drains, sweeping streets, and washing public toilets as dictated by their respective court convictions.

 The Sun Malaysia