Penang litterbugs will be ordered to clean public spaces under community service orders starting July 1, says state exco.
GEORGE TOWN: Individuals caught littering in public places in Penang may soon be ordered to carry out cleaning duties in public areas under Community Service Orders (PKM) beginning July 1.
State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the activities identified under the PKM include collecting rubbish, sweeping, washing, mopping, painting and gathering solid waste in designated public areas.
“Among the identified locations are public roads, public markets, farmers’ markets, morning and night markets, public drains, public beaches, bus stops, public toilets, public parks, pedestrian walkways, overhead bridges, food courts and hawker centres,” he said at the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
H’ng was replying to a supplementary question from Joseph Ng Soon Siang (PH-Air Itam) regarding the activities, locations, implementation schedule and financial implications of the PKM in Penang.
He said the implementation schedule would be determined by local authorities based on operational suitability, the duration of the sentence imposed, as well as the safety and welfare of offenders.
The PKM implementation will not involve additional financial implications for the state government as it will utilise existing local authority manpower and operational resources after all guidelines, standard operating procedures and implementation mechanisms are finalised, he added.
