by Dr Rahim Said
Only in Malaysia can a durian skin spark almost a major outrage. A now-viral TikTok clip from Kota Bharu shows a Proton Saga passenger casually tossing durian skins out the window at a traffic light, leaving a spiky mess on the road.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen litter bugs in action — plastic bags, cigarette butts, rambutan skins — but durian skins? That takes a special kind of audacity.
For some Malaysians, public roads seem to be an extension of their backyard. Eat durian in the car, throw the skins out like it’s someone else’s problem.
Because why not? Majlis Perbandaran will clean it up. After all, the local government assessment fees and road tax were already paid.
For those unaware, littering from vehicles is illegal under Rule 52 of the Kaedah‑Kaedah Lalu Lintas Jalan 1959 and Section 119(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Fines go up to RM2,000 or six months’ jail. Yet, judging by how common this is, many seem convinced they’re immune.
The issue here isn’t just littering — it’s the mindset. A deep-rooted civic laziness where public spaces are treated like private dumps.
What’s ’s worse is that these people walk among us. They drive the same roads, shop at the same pasar malam, and possibly vote in the same elections.
Durian skins aren’t just an eyesore. They’re a hazard for motorcyclists, a nuisance for road sweepers, and a symbol of everything wrong with civic awareness in this country.
Netizens called for the video to go viral as a lesson. But how many lessons do we need? From clogged drains to flash floods, the signs are everywhere — and yet the mentality persists.
Perhaps offenders should be made to clean public roads themselves, durian skins and all. Post it online. Let them go viral for something useful for once.
Because sadly, they’re still out there. And they walk among us. Until they face the full brunt of three soon-to-be-amended laws: the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 and the Local Government Act 1976.
WE