By Himanshu Bhatt.

THERE was a quaint little announcement recently when the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) held its last full-council meeting for the year. In an apparent attempt to clamp down on littering the MPPP decided to increase the fine against litterbugs to RM250 from RM50.

The news may have raised a few eyebrows but one may still be forgiven for wondering if the fine would help to make our streets cleaner. Malaysians have over the years learnt to be cynical about government enforcement, more so when there is prevalent public apathy towards issues like cleanliness and the environment.

But the announcement about the littering fine has come on the heels of several policies introduced this year in Penang that have, surprisingly enough, been met with some tacit, unusual support from the public.

Take for example the state’s limited ban on free plastic bags, which will be made even tighter come

Saturday when all hypermarkets and supermarkets will be prohibited from giving away the bags for free.

Remarkably enough – put aside the expected opposition from plastic manufacturers – the policy has by and large found a willing and abiding public. Within just a year, shoppers have generally adapted, bringing their own bags with little public resistance proffered against the policy.

There was, similarly, little opposition of significance when the state introduced a surcharge on usage of water by household consumers to discourage wastage. Starting in November, although there was no increase in rates per se, users who exceeded 35 cubic metres a month began to be "penalised" with an extra 24 sen a cubic metre above the limit.

What is most interesting about this whole affair is the visible change that has been shown in an entire public culture, and that too within a short time. Extraordinarily enough, the "dirty Malaysian" is changing, albeit ever so slightly.

There appears to be on the ground a greater acceptance of government policies; with a lot more sensitivity towards the environment and the like. The key to this may just be in the way the authorities educate the people, fostering awareness about the common good. That and a good dose of political strategy.

In March 2008, the new Penang government produced lots of happy smiles when it waived all compounds against hawkers. Then, about 21 months later, the MPPP set up an "enforcement and public education committee" to beef up action against those flouting the law – including illegal hawkers.

Now if only our government can carry this momentum into the New Year, and further embolden itself to take up arms against the many other public scourges that have victimised the majority.

Like, for example the "jaga kereta" menace, which is in effect brazen daylight extortion of vehicle users. Like errant developers who flout regulations to carry out construction activities that are against the law. Like the unlicensed touts and "beach boys" in Batu Ferringhi who cast a black mark on the tourism image of our island.

One even wishes we can improve our public toilets maintenance culture; or that we can clean up our polluted rivers. And there are many other similar wishes we can have as we move into the New Year.

Somehow, Singapore, with its famous potent mix of enforcement and education, has been able to do it. Penang of course may not be like Singapore.

But if the indications from the public in 2010 are to be correctly gauged, one can be excused for harbouring some hope that the improvements we so crave in our culture and our collective consciousness can be achieved, as we move into 2011.

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