PASIR GUDANG:A man was caught red-handed dumping rubbish into a river in Taman Sri Plentong, Masai, here, after the act was captured on a motorist’s dashcam.
The footage, which was uploaded to the motorist’s TikTok account, quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from the Johor state government.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on Monday at 6.30pm, showed the motorist pulling over and confronting the individual who was seen tossing garbage bags into the waterway from his vehicle.
The driver who recorded the act sternly confronted the culprit and warned that he would report the matter to the authorities.
The video, uploaded to TikTok by user @4iliff_, has since gone viral, sparking public outrage.
The footage also shows a lorry loaded with debris parked by the roadside, with its carriage door open.
The motorist alleged that its contents were intended to be dumped directly into the river.
In response, Johor State Environment and Health Committee chairman, Ling Tian Soon, issued a sharp rebuke.
“It’s really sad to see videos like this. There are still people who, for their selfish convenience, choose to throw their rubbish into rivers or drainage systems. I strongly condemn such actions,” he told the New Straits Times when contacted today.
He lauded the motorist’s intervention, calling it an example of civic responsibility.
“I want to thank the brave member of the public who stepped up…his actions serve as a reminder that every one of us can play a part in keeping our surroundings clean and hygienic,” Ling said.
He added that the state government remains committed to its “Clean Johor” campaign, and will ramp up its efforts through education, encouragement and strict enforcement.
Ling also revealed that a new enforcement action plan targeting illegal dumping, particularly into rivers, will be unveiled next week.
He has also instructed the Pasir Gudang City Council enforcement officers to identify the culprit, and if found involved, for stern action to be taken against them.
Under the Clean Johor campaign, RM9 million was allocated to clean up four heavily affected rivers in February.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had said that RM2 million went towards cleaning Sungai Buluh and Sungai Tukang Batu in Pasir Gudang, while RM7 million was used to restore Sungai Skudai and Sungai Tebrau in the state capital.
Out of 14 polluted rivers identified statewide, nine have already been cleaned and rehabilitated.
Onn Hafiz had stressed the need for stronger public awareness, citing that domestic waste, especially from residential and squatter areas, remains a major contributor to river pollution.
In July last year, Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir reported that nine out of 25 rivers in Johor Baru were polluted, including Sungai Danga, Sungai Kempas, Sungai Segget, and Sungai Pandan.
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