BLACKLISTING contact numbers stated on illegal advertisements is one of the more efficient ways to stop the culprits from continuing with the practice, said Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) corporate communications officer Muhammad Azli Miswan.

“Every month, we compile the contact numbers on the illegal advertisements and send them to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“This helps reduce the number of illegal ads but it does not resolve the problem 100% as people can always get new SIM cards for their mobile phones,” he said.

StarMetro had reported about Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) move to suspend or terminate the business licences of premises owners whose building is stated as the venue for an event publicised on illegal advertisements via banners, bunting or posters.

However, Muhammad Azli said DBKL’s act would be tough to follow as unlike DBKL, which fell under the purview of the Federal Territories Ministry, MPSJ could not terminate business licences.

“Under the MPSJ Advertisement By-law 2007, the maximum fine for putting up advertisements without the council’s approval is RM1,000.

“Most are ah long ( loan sharks) ads. Removing illegal ads is part of the public cleaning contractors’ responsibility,” he said, adding that the glue used was too strong and made it difficult for the workers to remove pasted posters entirely from the wall.

Muhammad Azli said Prasarana and the Public Works Department had been asked to remove posters stuck on flyover pillars.

Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) corporate communications head Shahrin Ahmad said the council’s enforcement officers would take down such advertisements in their respective zones twice daily (morning and afternoon),” he said, adding that, last year the council had taken down 282,399 illegal advertisements.

“Most of these ads advertise services such as money lending, car rental and tuition, and are usually put up on lamp posts, trees, and road signage,” he said, adding that putting up advertisements without the council’s approval was an offence under the council’s Advertisement By-law 2007.

Shahrin advised those wanting to promote their products and services to call MBSA’s licensing department at 03-5510 5133 (ext 1408 / 1384).