INTEGRATED OPERATION WITH SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO ELIMINATE NUISANCE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO COLLECTION OF RECYCLEABLE ITEMS AND RUBBISH IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

IPOH, 19 JUNE 2025 - Ipoh City Council (MBI), in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department (JKM), has conducted an Integrated Operation to Eliminate Public Nuisance at a residential property following continuous complaints related to the collection of recyclable materials and hoarding of rubbish.

This fifth operation was led by Councillor Clr. Mr. Lam Yew Tact and City Legal Advisor Syahrul 'Azrin Ghazali, with the presence of a Social Welfare Department representative, Syed Abdul Halim Hilmy Syed Omar.

Since 2020, the Council has conducted five operations to eliminate public nuisance and initiated two legal actions against the property owner, a 71-year-old senior citizen. Despite this, he continued to collect recyclable items stored in his yard, causing annoyance to the surrounding community.

For this operation, the involvement of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) was an additional initiative aimed at finding a more effective and compassionate solution, particularly to assist the elderly person so as to prevent further tarnishing of the image of the neighbourhood and the city as a whole.

The operation began at 9.00 am with the deployment of 26 MBI personnel and 9 JKM staff and volunteers, and was carried out smoothly without any incidents. The property owner also cooperated fully with the operation team.

A total of three five-tonne lorries were used to dispose of the garbage at a landfill site, while recyclable items were collected and sold with the help of JKM volunteers. The proceeds from the sale were handed over to the elderly person as a form of welfare support.

The council hopes that such an integrated approach can serve as a model for addressing social issues based on public complaints in a holistic manner – combining firm enforcement with compassionate welfare measures.