The amenable action by the Law Enforcement Section signifies only the first step that the authorities are, in fact, serious in enforcing the rules and regulations on littering, particularly at commercial areas.

A few weeks ago, the BSB Municipal Board conducted several cleaning campaigns at commercial areas in Kiulap aimed at encouraging a cleaner environment. However, the responsibility of maintaining the effort remains in the hands of the relevant parties within the commercial areas itself.

The Municipal Department from Bandar Seri Begawan has also joined forces with other government agencies and the private sector in similar campaigns, focussing on commercial areas in Kampong Kiulap.

Unfortunately, when the Bulletin returned to these areas where the cleaning campaigns were conducted only two weeks ago, the areas were found to be littered with rubbish again.

A tenant in one of the commercial buildings in Kiulap argued that it is the landlord's responsibility - after all they are paying them a monthly maintenance fee.

This sentiment was also shared by another tenant, Lim, who said that the maintenance fee is paid to the landlord every month and he expects it to include cleaning services.

This fee, they said, covers the monthly costs of garbage disposals and cleaning of the surroundings of the rented buildings.

Meanwhile, several landlords confirmed that a maintenance fee is in fact collected. The buck is then passed on to a contracted cleaning service company, which is now being accused of failing to perform the job.

Moving down the line, these contractors, instead, blame the overlapping nature of land ownership in the commercial areas as there is confusion as to the boundaries - supposedly problematic for contractors as they do not know whether to proceed with the cleanup or leave it for someone else to deal with.

As a result of the perpetual finger pointing between contractors, owners and tenants and their tenacity in denouncing responsibility, overlapping areas or infrastructure, especially drainage areas or access roads, are worst affected by this growing plague, continuing to be permanent fixtures in the country's landscape.

Meanwhile, it appears some public members too are shaking off their responsibilities to of helping to maintain the cleanliness of the country.

Robert, who manages a commercial building in Gadong, told the Bulletin that efforts have been made to provide rubbish bins in the area and that at times, a cleaning crew was called in to alleviate the problem of scattered litter, of which, in part, originates from the public themselves.

This, however, perpetuates the problem as people have become accustomed to the idea of someone else cleaning up after them - a mindset that has proven very difficult to reverse.

One bystander commented on the lack of rubbish bins made available in most areas to be the cause of the problem.

"In neighbouring Singapore or Hong Kong, there is a rubbish bin every few metres in a busy commercial area much like Gadong or Kiulap and they are regularly emptied," Ruzanna commented.

"Why would anybody litter when there's a rubbish bin every few steps you take? Just don't give them a chance to litter."

"We lack effective public service announcements," said Kevin, a local university student, when asked of his opinion on the problem, which he agrees seems to be growing exponentially.

"Telling the people not to litter is one thing but making them ashamed of it is another."

Meanwhile, the Municipal Department continue to remind members of the public that littering in a public place carries a compound fine of up to $300.

Failure to settle the compound fine will result in a court hearing, where if found guilty, a fine of $1,000 is imposed for the first offence and $3,000 for consecutive offences as well as prison of not more than three months.