21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Dewan Rakyat passes Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill
KUALA LUMPUR: The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Amendment) Bill 2025, which aims to enhance public cleanliness and enforce community service orders against littering offenders, has received the Dewan Rakyat's approval.
The bill, tabled for its second and third reading by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, was debated by 14 lawmakers.
Another two related bills, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Street, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill 2025, will also be tabled for their second reading.
Nga said the amendment to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act is crucial to instilling greater civic responsibility, increasing public awareness, and nurturing a culture of cleanliness, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable Malaysia.
In response to a query on whether individuals convicted of littering and sentenced to community service would carry a criminal record, Nga clarified that they would not.
"For the information of this House, they will not have a criminal record, as the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act; the Local Government Act; and the Street, Drainage and Building Act, which are proposed for amendment, are not listed in the First Schedule of the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1991 or any other Act," he said.
In response to a question on whether tourists would also be subject to the law, Nga said that anyone who commits an offence must be held accountable.
"There will be no discrimination; tourists are also subject to the same rules," he said.
Meanwhile, Nga said parents or guardians would not be allowed to serve community service sentences on behalf of their children convicted of littering offences.
He said that the law does not provide for community service penalties to be transferred to parents, guardians, or other family members.
"You cannot say that if a 17-year-old throws rubbish, then ask the grandparents or parents to carry out the sentence. That's not allowed. Whoever commits the offence must be held responsible," Nga said.
However, he said that sentencing would be at the discretion of the court, taking into account the offender's physical and mental condition.
