Kuala lumpur: The National Council for Local Government has mandated that all shopping malls must integrate recycling facilities into their infrastructure by January 1, 2026, as announced by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. This directive will be included as a condition for business licensing by local authorities, aligning with the Ministry’s initiatives to eliminate single-use plastic bags.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this initiative is part of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government’s broader strategy to manage plastic waste effectively across the nation. Minister Nga Kor Ming emphasized that shopping malls failing to comply with this requirement risk losing their business licenses from local authorities. He made these remarks during the debate on the Street, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat, where the Bill was subsequently passed by a voice vote following discussions by ten Members of Parliament from both government and opposition parties.
The recent legislative amendments, including the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2025, aim to empower courts to issue community service orders for littering in public areas. Nga expressed confidence that these measures would progressively mitigate littering, which contributes to drainage and waterway blockages, thereby reducing the frequency of flash floods, particularly in urban areas.
Minister Nga highlighted that the community service orders would apply universally, affecting all individuals regardless of status, including foreign tourists found guilty of littering. He added that enforcing such orders, even on prominent figures, would enhance public awareness and responsibility towards cleanliness.
Additionally, pet owners will be subject to similar regulations if they neglect to clean up pet waste in public spaces. Nga reiterated the MADANI government’s commitment to fairness and emphasized that the objective of these orders is not punitive but educational, fostering a sense of responsibility in maintaining clean public environments.