Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is set to table three amendment bills in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session, which is scheduled to begin this Monday, to enhance public cleanliness in the country. Minister Nga Kor Ming stated that the bills pertain to the Streets, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133), the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672), and the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the amendments aim to address the issue of littering, particularly involving items such as cigarette butts, tissues, plastics, beverage cans, and food packaging in public places and on streets. Nga Kor Ming emphasized the need for civic responsibility, public awareness, and a culture of cleanliness to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Malaysia for the well-being of its citizens.

He highlighted the significance of public involvement in maintaining environmental cleanliness, especially ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, to create a positive first impression for foreign tourists. During the Malaysia Cleanup Day programme at Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur, on 28 Sept 2024, KPKT collected substantial amounts of waste, including 51.9 kilogrammes of food waste, 64.3 kilogrammes of paper waste, 127.6 kilogrammes of plastic waste, and 541 cigarette butts over a 12-hour period.

Nga noted that the statistics indicate the ineffectiveness of fines imposed by local authorities in curbing littering. Therefore, he suggested implementing community service orders as a form of punishment to educate offenders on environmental cleanliness and reduce pollution. The proposed amendments would empower the court to order convicted offenders to perform community service for up to 12 hours, with non-compliance resulting in a fine of not less than RM2,000 and not more than RM10,000 upon conviction.