Littering is a filthy habit. It just demonstrates the type of low mentality of the perpetrators. There are many types of litterbugs. From the innocent young to the ignorant elderlies. There are also those who can think well which even include the well-educated intellectuals. Others are the uncultured, ill-mannered individuals. Some are just plain innocent like the little children who have not been taught by their parents not to throw rubbish everywhere. As for the elderlies, many of them are beyond advice due to their ignorance in public decorum and general hygiene. However the majority can be taught to abide by the rules; even by force, just like the Singaporeans. So it all boils down to FULL-TIME ENFORCEMENT. Nothing else.
The MPPP (The Penang Island Municipal Council) is increasing littering fine from RM50 to RM250. It's not that RM50 is too little a deterrent. It is the NON ENFORCEMENT of the fine that is the cause of the littering problem. I would feel the pinch of RM50 fine each time I am caught. Of course you can never catch me littering because I NEVER litter. What's the point of this increase, when it is not going to be enforced??
Why not increase to RM2500? It's not going to work.
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Recent comments:
bow said...
Raising the fine amount is like saying if you are rich and can afford to pay the ticket, you don't have to go to jail. On the other hand, if you can't shelve out the money, then you go to jail. I am sure Penang government will love to raise the fine to $2,500 or $25,000 if possible, it has nothing to do with effective enforcement or not, more at generating revenue for the state treasury. The state government is getting greedy each day, not a good sign for PR supporters.
Justin Choo said...
Bow,
I am sure the Penang state government is sincere. As I said, the RM50 has not been enforced effectively. Also we must be aware of the cancer of corruption; here it's only the petty corruption of some low-level "officers".
Enforce the law effectively even with the RM50 fine, then no more littering. The amount of fine can easily pay for the wages of the enforcers. They can employ part-time workers and not having to be MPPP full-time workers. That will work better, and also cost effective.
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Recent comments:
bow said...
Raising the fine amount is like saying if you are rich and can afford to pay the ticket, you don't have to go to jail. On the other hand, if you can't shelve out the money, then you go to jail. I am sure Penang government will love to raise the fine to $2,500 or $25,000 if possible, it has nothing to do with effective enforcement or not, more at generating revenue for the state treasury. The state government is getting greedy each day, not a good sign for PR supporters.
Justin Choo said...
Bow,
I am sure the Penang state government is sincere. As I said, the RM50 has not been enforced effectively. Also we must be aware of the cancer of corruption; here it's only the petty corruption of some low-level "officers".
Enforce the law effectively even with the RM50 fine, then no more littering. The amount of fine can easily pay for the wages of the enforcers. They can employ part-time workers and not having to be MPPP full-time workers. That will work better, and also cost effective.
3 comments:
Raising the fine amount is like saying if you are rich and can afford to pay the ticket, you don't have to go to jail. On the other hand, if you can't shelve out the money, then you go to jail. I am sure Penang government will love to raise the fine to $2,500 or $25,000 if possible, it has nothing to do with effective enforcement or not, more at generating revenue for the state treasury. The state government is getting greedy each day, not a good sign for PR supporters.
Bow,
I am sure the Penang state government is sincere. As I said, the RM50 has not been enforced effectively. Also we must be aware of the cancer of corruption; here it's only the petty corruption of some low-level "officers".
Enforce the law effectively even with the RM50 fine, then no more littering. The amount of fine can easily pay for the wages of the enforcers. They can employ part-time workers and not having to be MPPP full-time workers. That will work better, and also cost effective.
Raise the amount to @250 will give the ticketing enforcer better chance to accept "duit kopi" and will keep the offender get off the hook, R50 -R100 can get your ticket dismiss by the enforcer. That may have been the intent of Penang State government to raise the fine amount, R50 has not much room for negotiation by the public employees. It is quite obvious to me.
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