5 Singaporeans among 55 booked for littering in Johor as Malaysia tightens enforcement

Five Singaporeans are among 55 people booked for littering in Johor Bahru since January 1, as Malaysia steps up enforcement under newly gazetted rules that send offenders to court rather than allowing on-the-spot settlements.Johor Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) director Zainal Fitri Ahmad said the Singaporeans had offered a range of excuses when caught, including claims that they were picking up rubbish rather than discarding it.“One said they were not throwing rubbish but were collecting it first,” he told The Star newspaper on Tuesday. “These excuses cannot be accepted. Our country’s law is clear.”Zainal Fitri said the cases were among 55 notices issued for littering in public areas, involving items such as cigarette butts, drink containers and tissues.“Of the total notices issued, 28 cases involved foreigners, including tourists and migrant workers, while the rest are locals,” he said.Johor Bahru, the capital of Malaysia’s southernmost state and a busy cross-border city opposite Singapore, has been a focus of stepped-up enforcement, with authorities pushing to improve cleanliness as the Malaysia-2026" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="15779" data-entity-type="event">Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism campaign rolls out.