Anti Litterbugs Campaign

Anti Litterbugs Campaign was launched by MBPJ recently. It is a campaign to catch and fine the litter bug for throwing rubbish, small or big everywhere on the streets. Plain cloth enforcers will be deployed to round the street to catch red handed and to issue compound immediately to those throwing rubbish. The fine is ranged from RM50 to RM100 for different offences. While this is a noble move of keeping the city clean, the execution is not that easy.

At the initial stage, perhaps a lot of argument will happen between the enforcers and the offenders. Some might question the right of the enforcers to fine them. Even some will ask for explanation and proof of their wrongdoing. The naughty one will just walk away if the enforcers are trying to confront him/her. Perhaps the bully one will try to threaten or beat the enforcers. It is a big question for the enforcers to overcome this possibility. Will they be nice guy first to advice people of not repeating the offences or do they immediately issuing the compound? How do they handle the situation if thing turns out to be very unbecoming? Can they handle nasty person or the bully? Are they allow to exercise citizen arrest if the offender run away from the scene? All these possibilities are yet to be seen.

Having said this, enforcement is still worth trying since the awareness campaign run over the years have not been very successful. We witnessed people of throwing rubbish or even the cigarette bug illegally on the street without any fear or even shameless to say the least. Perhaps only stick instead of carrot is the way forward. Unless and until the society inculcates the value system and culture of keeping clean and tidy or else enforcement action is unavoidable.