Litterbugs may soon be slapped with up to 12 hours of court-ordered community service under proposed amendments to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Act 2007.
Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the tougher penalty aims to address persistent public littering and instil civic responsibility among Malaysians.
“Based on records of the amount of litter collected, it is clear that the fines imposed by local authorities are no longer a deterrent for offenders from repeating this bad habit.
“Therefore, the courts will have the power to order community service of up to 12 hours, in addition to a fine,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when tabling the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing (Amendment) Bill 2025 today.
Nga said the proposed amendments would also cover minor acts of littering, such as throwing cigarette butts, tissues, plastic and drink cans in public spaces or on public roads.
The bill will also broaden the definition of solid waste to include reusable items like plastic bags and bottles.
He said the stronger laws are necessary as Malaysia takes on a global leadership role in environmental efforts.
“As the president (of the UN-Habitat Assembly), Malaysia must show commitment towards environmental sustainability. We aim for a zero-waste culture that includes recycling, reducing and reusing,” he said.
Nga said countries such as the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore have implemented similar measures.
“Despite our country’s progress, there are still many who throw rubbish irresponsibly. We want to shape a society that values cleanliness and is responsible,” he said.
The amendments, covering four clauses, apply to Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sabah and Sarawak may adopt them through their own ordinances.
