Kuala lumpur: The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) plans to nominate recipients of the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award for state honours in recognition of their service and sacrifices in keeping public spaces clean. Its Minister, Nga Kor Ming, announced that the proposal was discussed with KPKT secretary-general Datuk Dr Wira M Noor Azman Taib to ensure this year's award recipients received due recognition for their contributions.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga Kor Ming shared his intentions to nominate national cleaning workers award recipients to the respective state palaces to receive honours from the respective state rulers. The announcement was made during the 2026 Cleaning Workers Appreciation Day event, where Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu was also present.
Nga noted that the Penang state government had been honouring cleaning workers for almost a decade, and he stressed the importance of extending this recognition to other states. He remarked on the dedication of the country's 26,889 cleaning workers, many of whom have served for over a decade, with some dedicating up to three decades to the sector.
He highlighted the crucial role cleaning workers play in maintaining a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for the people, despite often working behind the scenes. Nga emphasized that public cleanliness is a shared responsibility and urged Malaysians to adopt the habit of not littering to achieve the 'Malaysia Bersih, Rakyat Sejahtera' aspiration.
Nga called on the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) to enhance enforcement of the Community Service Order (PKM) to foster greater public responsibility. He reported that 14,807 offence notices had been issued this year, with 548 individuals undergoing Community Service Orders in states that have adopted Act 672. Of these, 419 have completed their orders, while 129 are still serving them.
Nga reiterated that the Community Service Order serves as both a punishment and an educational tool to instill discipline, responsibility, and awareness of public cleanliness. At the event, seven workers received the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award, with two from Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and five from SWM Environment Sdn Bhd. Contributions were also presented to three recipients to support the welfare of cleaning workers.