Ahok threatening Rp 5 million fine for litterbugs

JAKARTA. Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has warned Jakarta residents that his administration would enforce the regulation that imposes Rp 5 million ( US$366 ) fines on litterers, including those who dump garbage into the rivers.

The city administration plans to write letters to district courts to tell judges to give heavy punishments to litterers, which according to Jakarta Bylaw No. 8/2007 on public order should be between Rp 500,000 to Rp 5 million, the governor said.

He said relevant officers of the city administration would carry out operations to enforce the law against those who still dump garbage in public places and rivers and the violators would be fined after attending a quick court hearing for the light crime.

Currently, the light punishment against the litters, which was a fine of between Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000, has failed to deter anyone and therefore littering is still a problem in the capital city.

“The fine is between Rp 500,000 to Rp 5 million.  Rp 5 million may be too high. Rp 500,000 is quite a heavy fine for Jakarta people,” the governor said.   

Using a rubber boat, Ahok inspected the Ciliwung River, the longest river in the capital, on Wednesday. He expressed his satisfaction with the efforts to clean up the rivers, but stressed that further efforts to make the water in Jakarta’s rivers “clean enough for swimming”.

The governor has also invited public participation to warn other residents not to throw garbage into rivers.