LIPIS: Motorists dumping rubbish along the Central Spine Road between Kuala Lipis and Merapoh here better watch out.
The Pahang Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at littering hotspots along the stretch.
Pahang SWCorp director Sharudin Hamid said efforts to educate road users, especially those travelling during festive periods and school holidays, and placing more rubbish bins along the expressway had not been effective in preventing littering.
"We installed the cameras at strategic locations on June 1. So far, there has been a significant drop in littering. Some motorists still throw rubbish along the road, but it is not as bad as before.
"The cameras were installed at locations that were always inundated with rubbish, including plastic bottles, polystyrene containers and aluminium cans. Some people even threw urine-filled bottles.
"We can now catch culprits in the act and identify their vehicle registration numbers. Our initiative has helped change people's behaviour," he said today.
Sharudin said the CCTV cameras were installed with the help of the Lipis District Council, which has access to the footage and can issue fines to litterbugs.
The Central Spine Road, which has no rest stops or petrol stations, made headlines in April when images of garbage along the expressway went viral.
There were heaps of rubbish there during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, prompting SWCorp to place eight bins at littering hotspots along the stretch. Banners were put up to remind road users to dispose of their rubbish appropriately. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1036276/pahang-swcorp-places-...)
In April, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government had proposed building two rest stops near the expressway, one between Bentong and Raub and one near Kampung Kechau Tui in Lipis. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1036853/pahang-mb-two-new-rrs...)