Nadia Ahmad Samdin on Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill

The Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill underscores the Government's commitment to boost public cleanliness and hygiene, said MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Feb 6), she said the proposed measures will increase the authorities' ability to act swiftly and effectively against littering while guiding companies towards greater professionalism. She said she is heartened with the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model for waste management and materials recovery workers, who are "often unseen and unheard". She wanted to know if the National Environment Agency (NEA) foresees any shocks to the industry should a large number of companies fail to keep their licences. She asked if NEA has any plans to help cleaning companies and their employees make the transition. Turning to high-rise littering, she said the proposed law could place greater onus on flat owners and tenants and serve as a possible deterrent. She pointed out that some cases of high-rise littering cannot be stopped by enforcement and should be handled with compassion. She said enforcement should be "solutions-driven" to soothe the frayed nerves of the complaining neighbour, such as installing mesh over the window, rather than focusing on a penal effect. She asked if NEA could have a tiered process, with a warning letter and an advisory notice before the actual enforcement in court.