PARLIAMENT | The government has tabled a new bill which seeks to punish those who cause damage to public roads with a fine up RM100,000, a hundred times more than the current fine of up to RM1,000.

The bill to amend the Street, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 also seeks to introduce a new clause empowering local authorities to order those who cause such damage to either repair or foot the bill for the repair works.

Besides public streets, causing damage to footpaths, verandah ways, works and property belonging to local authorities is also a punishable offence.

The penalty applies regardless of whether the damage was done intentionally or not. At present, Section 39 of the Act only penalises damage done "willfully".

The bill also seeks to raise the fine for taking up pavement space without permission from RM500 to RM50,000.

When contacted, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the amendments were being pushed as the current fines were "too little" and not proportionate to the offence.

The amendments, if passed, can be enforced by both federal and state authorities. State governments, however, can exempt any local authority areas from the act.

Other amendments under the bill include the need for a geotechnical report verified by an accredited expert for the erection of any building on slopes of a certain gradient and height. 

The bill will be read for a second time today.