Kuala lumpur: More than 1,000 individuals nationwide have been arrested and subjected to Community Service Orders (CSO) for littering in public places since the beginning of the year. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming stated that the enforcement of Community Service Orders under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672) has proven effective in improving public cleanliness.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga emphasized the phased implementation of community service sentences and noted a significant positive impact on public cleanliness. This initiative is particularly timely as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026). Nga shared these insights while speaking to reporters after attending the Ihya Ramadan - Islah MADANI: Memurni Jiwa Membangun Ummah programme with staff of the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), an event also graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The event was also attended by other notable figures, including Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, and Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.

Community Service Orders under Act 672 are currently enforced as a punitive measure to address minor littering offences in public areas. KPKT has announced that the implementation covers Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, and Kedah, as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

For the states of Penang, Selangor, Kelantan, and Terengganu, which have not yet adopted Act 672, enforcement will commence once approval is obtained from the respective state authorities. In addition, Nga highlighted broader reforms being introduced by KPKT, including night-time cleaning operations and the gradual conversion of garbage trucks to electric vehicles (EVs).