First in Malaysia: Indonesian Man Jailed over Cigarette Butt Litter - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An Indonesian national has become the first individual in Malaysia to serve jail time for littering after discarding a cigarette butt in a public space.

As reported by Free Malaysia Today, Johor Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) Director Zainal Fitri Ahmad confirmed that the 36-year-old man committed the offense in the Stulang area of Johor back in February.

The general worker began serving a one-month prison sentence on August 28, 2026, after failing to settle an RM1,000 (around Rp4.3 million) fine handed down by the court.

"The man will undergo a six-hour Community Service Order (CSO) upon completing his jail sentence," Zainal Fitri said, as quoted in joint reports citing news agency Bernama.

Zainal Fitri noted that Malaysian courts have disposed of 107 cases involving community service orders to date, comprising 59 local citizens and 48 foreign nationals. Those proceedings yielded a cumulative RM71,550 in fines, with court-ordered community service requirements ranging between two and ten hours.

To date, SWCorp officers have conducted 3,358 enforcement sweeps across Johor, issuing 3,095 formal Notices of Offence. "To date, 789 investigation papers have also been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action," Zainal Fitri added during the media briefing.

Littering in public spaces in Malaysia is prosecuted under Section 77A of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672). Under the law, violators face fines of up to RM2,000 or community service mandates for up to six months. Additionally, failure to comply with these penalties can result in further legal action, including fines of up to RM10,000.