KUALA LUMPUR — The Selangor government aims to adopt the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 by the third quarter of next year as part of its response to concerns raised by the Sultan of Selangor over worsening cleanliness in the state.
State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the move would significantly strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping and poor waste management.
“We estimate that Selangor can begin enforcing this law by the third quarter of next year, and it will really strengthen our enforcement efforts. It will be quite the game changer,” he told Scoop.
Ng was asked about the state’s plans following Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s concerns which the ruler expressed in a recent interview with Bernama, stating he was “fed up” and wanted local councils to “clean up their act”.
Ng said by adopting the federal Act, Selangor could impose heavier penalties, including jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to RM100,000, compared with the existing Local Government Act 1976.
“At present, enforcement is limited by outdated laws that only allow fines of up to RM1,000. This is clearly insufficient to deter offenders,” he said.
Ng said the state government viewed the Sultan’s remarks seriously and would take immediate steps to improve cleanliness.
A special meeting involving mayors, local council presidents and KDEB Waste Management will be held on Monday to discuss both short-term and long-term waste management solutions.
“We have summoned all relevant parties to ensure better coordination and to identify practical solutions that can be implemented without delay,” Ng said.
Community service
Ng added that amendments to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act, expected to come into force on Jan 1, will also allow local councils to impose community service on litterbugs.
“Under these amendments, anyone caught littering can be required to carry out up to 12 hours of community service, including picking up rubbish,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin said the Sultan’s remarks echoed long-standing concerns raised by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“What His Royal Highness has raised is entirely consistent with what we in PN have been advocating for repeatedly over the years,” the opposition representative said when contacted.
Afif said cleanliness issues in Selangor were not new and that residents had endured the same problems for far too long.
“Despite countless complaints and assurances, meaningful improvements on the ground remain lacking,” he said, adding that weak enforcement and inefficient waste collection continued to plague many areas.
He said Selangor’s cleanliness standards did not reflect its status as a leading and highly developed state.
“Selangor deserves better governance, better planning and better execution when it comes to matters that directly affect the daily lives of the people,” he said.
Afif said PN believed the issue could be addressed with stronger leadership and political will.
“If given the mandate, we are confident that we can do better by prioritising cleanliness and strengthening enforcement,” he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin in his interview had voiced deep concern over worsening cleanliness in the state, saying he was flooded with complaints from the public and wanted immediate action to restore Selangor’s image.
The complaints involved overflowing rubbish bins, clogged drains, unkempt back lanes, irregular rubbish collection, poorly maintained street bins, and lax enforcement against littering.
The Ruler called for accountability by local councils, including termination of contractors who failed to perform.
He also called for professionals or retirees with relevant skills and experience to be appointed as councillors, noting that local councils should comprise entirely of politicians or political appointees. – December 14, 2025