Lahad Datu in up hill battle to clean up town

Labelled as one of the dirtiest towns in Sabah, Lahad Datu is struggling to contain its mounting garbage disposal problem.

The district council is planning drastic action to solve the problem that has ballooned over the years and it includes hefty compound fines on those caught littering within its rating areas.

Immediate action will be taken to address cleanliness issues that have been causing a headache for the council for years now, said councillor Kassim Sulaiman.

"The council has tried its best in tackling the problem but it continues to persist," he said.

The matter was discussed in great length during a full council meeting held last month due to the severity of the problem and numerous complaints from rate payers and the public.

The meeting deliberated on the root cause of the problem and the options open to it but there are several factors that have turned the town into a chaotic dumping ground.

The councillors conceded that the council would need help to first clean up and then keep the booming town clean.

Anti-litter laws

Builders, developers, occupants of commercial, residential and office buildings to name a few are among those who will be targeted in the clean-up drive.

They will be made to understand that they are duty bound to ensure that the areas where they live or carry out business or other activities are always kept clean, Kassim said.

He warned that the council enforcement would fine those caught disposing of rubbish where they pleased.

The council is also unhappy with private companies appointed to carry out the cleaning, maintaining and repairing work and has issued new guidelines on what is expected of them.

The district council is also planning to enforce its anti-litter by-laws which allows them to impose a compound fine of between RM100 and RM500 on offenders.

"We are finalising the legal aspects. Once we finalise on how to deal with illegal immigrants as well as those refused to pay the fine and compound, we will enforce it," Kassim said.

Business premises would also be ordered to provide garbage bins for the convenient disposal of rubbish, he said.

The council currently has contracts with four companies to carry out the cleaning, maintaining and repairing works within the council’s rating areas.

courtesy of FMT