Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) may be amended to include community service and heavier fines for those caught littering, Bernama reported.

“I want the offender to do social service, including sweeping the streets under the hot sun. We can advertise on TikTok and social media, giving ‘free publicity’ to these litterbugs.

“Local government authorities, including the Kampar district council, have been instructed not to give discounts for compound fines to litterbugs,” he said after a “Sentuhan Kasih KPKT” programme in Kampar today.

Nga was commenting on media reports about the ongoing pollution of Malaysia’s tourist-focused beaches.

There have been reports that thousands of cigarette butts were discarded by visitors at these beaches, raising concerns about the impact of toxic waste on the environment.

There have also been concerns over picnickers stopping along roads for a break or visiting waterfalls and failing to collect the garbage with them when they leave.