Kuala lumpur: A heated session unfolded in the Dewan Rakyat sitting today when Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) accused Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming of lying about the 20 tonnes of rubbish collected following Saturday’s rally. Nga clarified that the figure was based on a report by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga stated that the government respects the Federal Constitution and upholds democratic principles by allowing peaceful assemblies, but such gatherings must be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, including maintaining cleanliness. He emphasized that maintaining cleanliness was crucial, and he was criticizing unhygienic behavior rather than accusing any specific individual of littering. The 20 tonnes of rubbish mentioned originated from the SWCorp report, and numerous workers were deployed to clean up after the rally.
Nga was previously reported to have said that a total of 20 tonnes of rubbish was collected following the rally, with cleanup operations extending until 3:30 am. In the same session, he discussed the closure of 23 non-sanitary landfills under the Non-Sanitary Landfill Closure and Rehabilitation Plan and the planned closure of another 155 open dumping sites nationwide during the 13th Malaysia Plan period.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), through the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN), is focusing on transitioning non-sanitary landfills to sanitary landfills equipped with leachate treatment plants. Nga also highlighted the ministry’s reuse approach for closed landfill sites, transforming them into public spaces such as Lestari Parks, solar farms, and community facilities.
Nga provided an example of a successful Lestari Park pilot project at the former landfill site at Felda Bandar Tenggara. The site, previously containing over 360,000 metric tons of waste since 1999, has been transformed into a recreational park with a stroller garden concept, featuring attractively designed landscape elements and environmental rehabilitation components.
He was responding to a question from Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara) regarding the ministry’s efforts to address issues of odor and water pollution commonly associated with poorly managed landfill sites.