13/03/2026

FRIDAY | MAR 13, 2026

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Public urged to dispose of rubbish responsibly

Pahang authorities deny claims of illegal logging activities KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has denied allegations of illegal logging activities in Bentong as claimed in a video that was recently widely circulated on social media. The department said the tree-felling activity shown in the video was not illegal logging but was carried out on privately owned land located outside the Permanent Reserved Forest area. “(The department) and the state government view this matter seriously as it involves the sustainability of forest management as well as public perception of environmental conservation efforts in the state.” The department also said the area involved comprised five privately-owned land lots that had received approval from the authorities for the development of an agricultural project. “The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority as part of efforts to develop and manage land that would benefit the landowners as well as the local agricultural sector.” The department added that it remains committed to ensuring that any development and land-use activities are carried out in full compliance with existing rules and laws while ensuring environmental sustainability continues to be preserved. “The public is advised not to speculate or spread unverified information. Such actions would only cause misunderstanding and unease among the community. “(The department) always welcomes official information from the public and will take firm action if there are any violations of the law under the forestry acts and enactments in the state.” – Bernama 108 open burning complaints in Kedah ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Environment Department received 108 complaints involving open burning from Jan 1 to Feb 28. Its director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said three districts, namely Sungai Petani, Kota Setar and Kulim, recorded the highest number of complaints. “Among the factors that (lead to) open burning is the irresponsible actions of the (public). In addition, in the current hot and dry weather conditions, it could cause fires to spread quickly and they are difficult to control. “(The Environment Department) only received 108 complaints but the Fire and Rescue Department received more than 1,000 cases related to open burning. Many complaints do not reach us, so it is difficult to take action,” she told reporters on Wednesday. She added that her department would increase patrols to ensure that no party commits open burning because it is a serious offence under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. “Open burning could be a nuisance to nearby residents. For example, if you burn rubbish in your own area, the smoke (could) enter the houses of individuals who live nearby and (disrupt their routine). “Burning also involves domestic waste and certain (individuals) also burn plastic and tyres, which would produce black smoke and polluting fumes. For this reason, (the department) has established strategic cooperation with the Fire and Rescue department to identify areas where open burning takes place.” Sharifah Zakiah expressed hope that the public could report any open burning activities at the department’s toll-free line at 1-800-88 2727 or via the e-complaint feature on its official website. – Bernama

o More than 1,000 littering offences recorded since January: SWCorp

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: “Our principle is simple: the hands that throw rubbish should be the hands that clean it,” said Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) CEO Khalid Mohamed. He also urged the public to take responsibility for proper waste disposal, as enforcement against littering continues nationwide. He added that from Jan 1 to Mar 11 this year, SWCorp recorded 1,002 littering offences nationwide under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672). “Of the total, 789 offenders were locals while 213 were foreign nationals. A total of 709 compound notices were issued, while 189 cases were brought to court, with 76 cases completed,” he told reporters during the community service order implementation programme yesterday. He also said the second series of the community service order involved five offenders, including four Malaysians and one Indian national aged between 26 and 59, comprising four men and one woman, following the first series on Feb 13, which also included five individuals. “The programme was scheduled today during Ramadan because the court, which met on Feb 23, imposed fines and a four-hour community service order to be completed within a month. “Since that period would have fallen during Hari Raya, we felt it was inappropriate to carry out the order during the festive period. “In consideration of the Muslim offenders who are observing the fast, the tasks were arranged at locations deemed suitable and manageable during the fasting month,” he said, adding that consent was obtained from all the offenders, and all were confirmed to be in good health.

Khalid emphasised that SWCorp officers operate 24/7, including after office hours, and are occasionally deployed in plain clothes to monitor individuals who litter in public places. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

“Many offenders claim there are no rubbish bins nearby, but based on our experience this is often not true. In some cases, a rubbish bin may be only a few metres away. “Even if there is no bin nearby, it is still not an excuse. People could hold on to their rubbish and dispose of it properly when they find a bin.” Khalid emphasised that SWCorp officers operate 24/7, including after office hours, and are occasionally deployed in plain clothes to monitor individuals who litter in public places. “We have also seen individuals who are conscious about cleanliness. They keep their rubbish with them until they find a bin and then dispose of it properly. ”So far, we have not encountered any offenders refusing to carry out the community service order. “If they refuse to comply, they could face an additional fine ranging from RM2,000 to RM10,000, as well as possible imprisonment.”

Ewon said train services returned to normal on March 4 using the same railbus, which has been operating without any problems since. He added that the Sabah State Railway Department Board of Inquiry conducted a comprehensive investigation, reviewing the incident report, statements from Machinery Engineering Division staff, digital mobile video footage on the railbus as well as technical inspections and simulations at the scene. He said based on the findings of the internal investigation committee, disciplinary action would be recommended against the driver in accordance with the Sabah State Public Service Regulations 2008 [Code of Conduct Article 208(2)(j)] for negligence in performing his duties. He also said the department would boost its SOPs for train operations, maintenance and driving to prevent a recurrence of the incident. Ewon, who is also Sabah Industrial, Khalid said the community service tasks include cleaning drains, sweeping public areas, removing cobwebs and cleaning toilets, among other routine cleaning duties usually carried out by sanitation workers. However, he said apart from the 10 offenders involved so far, new arrests continue to be made every day. He added that the third series would take place on July 28, involving about 119 offenders across seven states, with the highest number from Kuala Lumpur at 37 cases, followed by Kedah with 31. He also said while food and drink containers were often discarded in the past, such cases are now much rarer, and most of their recent enforcement actions involve cigarette butts, which account for about 90% of offences. “In terms of public awareness, the government has been promoting cleanliness campaigns for a long time.

Tenom railbus collision caused by driver negligence KOTA KINABALU: An investigation into the March 3 train-trolley motor collision in Tenom revealed that the crash resulted from negligence by the Railbus RB8801 driver, who failed to carry out required machinery checks before departure. fully operational,” he told reporters during a programme to distribute iftar meals to railway passengers on Wednesday. Entrepreneurship and Transport minister, said the move was aimed at enhancing safety compliance, particularly among train drivers and assistant drivers on duty to prevent negligence (in performing their duties).

“The need to tighten and improve SOPs, especially for drivers and assistant drivers, was raised in the (inquiry) to ensure that all procedures related to train movement are carried out before operations begin.” He reminded residents living near railway tracks not to carry out any activities in the area to ensure their safety. He added that under the Sabah State Railways Enactment 2017, the railway reserve area is a prohibited zone and any activities within the track area require the minister’s approval upon the recommendation of the department director. The use of motorised trolleys built using motorcycles on railway tracks without permission is an offence and could damage the rails as well as compromise the safety of railway operations. – Bernama

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said the investigation also revealed that the driver did not close the isolating valve on the vehicle and omitted a dynamic test to ensure the brake system was fully functional. He added that the driver’s negligence caused the vehicle’s brake system to not function fully, resulting in a collision with the trolley motor. “After the railbus stopped at Km133/8, the driver checked and corrected the position of the isolating valve. A subsequent test drive showed that the brake system was functioning properly, allowing the railbus to return to Tenom Station without needing to be towed. “An inspection by the assistant engineer immediately after the railbus arrived at the station confirmed that the brake system was