Sarawak weighs mandatory community service for litterbugs, says Dr Sim

KUCHING (Dec 6): Sarawak will consider imposing mandatory community service for individuals caught littering, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Although Sarawak’s local authorities operate under state autonomy and are not required to follow federal directives, Dr Sim said the state is open to adopting initiatives that bring positive impact.

“Sarawak local authorities are not under Malaysia local authorities, we have autonomy. Any good things we will consider and any bad things we will not follow. That’s all I can say. Why should we follow bad things?

“Any good things we follow because as part of Sarawak nation building, we want to be better. We will see what is appropriate for Sarawak, because we have to look at the Sarawak setting,” Dr Sim told reporters after officiating at the Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC) Design Festival (PDF) 2025 at a hotel here on Saturday.

He was responding to questions on whether Sarawak would implement the federal initiative announced by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, which requires litterbugs to perform up to 12 hours of community service starting Jan 1 next year.

Nga said the measure aims to educate the public, raise awareness of environmental cleanliness, prevent repeat offences, and reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases caused by rats, flies, and mosquitoes.

Community service orders, he said, are subject to Magistrate’s Court decisions and may be carried out in a single day or divided into several sessions. Offenders would wear a special vest while picking up litter in public spaces, cleaning drains, and washing public toilets.

On the PAMSC Design Festival, Dr Sim commended the Sarawak chapter for organising the event, noting its contribution to the state’s nation-building agenda through exposure and collaboration with international experts.

“The main thing is that this event gives our local architects exposure and incorporates Sarawak values. The most important thing is the young students, because as Sarawak moves towards 2030, yes, our GDP wants to double, but you need people to sustain it,” he said.

He also emphasised the need for more architects, engineers, designers, and quantity surveyors in the coming years to support Sarawak’s accelerating infrastructure development.