Melaka considering instant compounds for littering

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said if found guilty, the offenders would be issued on-the-spot compounds by the local authorities. He said existing Local Authority By-laws are fixed at RM250 for such offences but the system has not been effective. "When the compounds are too high, the offenders cannot afford to pay immediately and they would rather go to court," he told reporters after launching the Melaka schools recycling club and anti-litter campaign here on Monday.

Also present was the Chief Executive Officer of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (PPSPPA) Datuk Ab Rahim Md Noor.

Idris urged the local authorities in the state to take the necessary steps to implement the enforcement of the compound.

At the same time, he said, the local authorities in the state were also urged to implement the "Don't Mess With Melaka" campaign as an initiative to support the efforts of PPSPPA to create a zero rubbish zone in the state. He said through the campaign the local authorities should create awareness programmes on waste management to create an excellent culture among the people of Melaka.

Meanwhile, Ab Rahim said PPSPPA was targetting the involvement of 10,000 schools throughout the country to create recycling clubs by the end of the year.

He said to date, 480 schools had started these clubs after it was launched in Negeri Sembilan last February.