Latest news with #SemarakJiwaMerdeka
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malls required to have recycling facilities by 2026
PUTRAJAYA: All shopping malls nationwide will be required to have recycling facilities starting Jan 1 next year, failing which their business licences will not be approved, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. He said the move is part of efforts to intensify the 'trash to cash' and 'waste to energy' agenda under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call to increase the recycling rate in Malaysia. 'We will enhance drive-thru recycling centres, and I am pleased to announce that from Jan 1, 2026, all shopping malls nationwide must have recycling facilities. 'Without them, business licences will not be approved,' he said after launching the Semarak Jiwa Merdeka @ KPKT programme yesterday. Nga said the measure would be supported by the nationwide implementation of separation at source. He added that the European Union's recycling rate is about 65% and Malaysia must 'catch up' to that level. Under 13MP, the ministry would also step up public awareness campaigns promoting the 'rethink, reuse, reduce, recycle' concept, starting with educating schoolchildren. On waste-to-energy development, Nga said Malaysia would adopt the most advanced and proven technologies from abroad to ensure sustainable operations. He cited the Ladang Merah project in Port Dickson, which currently generates enough energy from waste to supply 15,000 homes. 'Imagine if every state had a waste-to-energy plant. Hundreds of thousands of homes would no longer rely on coal, but on electricity generated from the solid waste we have thrown away. 'This is a clear policy direction, and we will implement it to ensure Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni.' Nga also outlined other planned public cleansing reforms under 13MP, which would be implemented through the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation and the National Solid Waste Management Department. The initiatives include introducing an electric vehicle fleet for garbage trucks to move towards a zero-carbon economy by 2035, launching night cleaning operations at strategic locations to avoid traffic disruption and suit Malaysia's climate and carrying out 'deep cleansing' in high-priority areas using water jets for dust-free cleaning. He said waste collection frequency would also be increased, from two or three times a week to four times, while more recycling facilities would be set up in commercial and public areas. The first phase of night cleaning would begin as a pilot project in key tourism zones, ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Locations under consideration include Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur. 'This method has proven successful in developed cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. 'Workers will avoid the sun, work in cooler conditions, and most importantly, not disrupt traffic in tourist areas,' Nga said, adding that he would personally go to the ground with workers during the rollout. On housing reform, Nga said the ministry has been entrusted to deliver one million affordable homes within 10 years under 13MP, with a focus on Perumahan Madani projects that are sustainable and inclusive. He also said the ministry's goal is to ensure every Malaysian can own a quality home. Earlier in his speech, Nga also urged civil servants to uphold the spirit of independence and unity beyond August.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Streets to shine as KL sleeps
Ready for Merdeka: Nga (front row, second from right) launching the Semarak Jiwa Merdeka event at the Housing and Local Government Ministry. PUTRAJAYA: Night-time cleaning is coming to the streets of Kuala Lumpur via a pilot project at some of the city's busiest tourist hotspots, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. As part of the Public Cleansing Reform under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the initiative will be implemented in areas such as Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor, among others. 'Midnight cleaning works have been proven successful in developed cities such as Shanghai and others. 'This approach avoids daytime traffic disruptions, and our workers won't have to toil under the sweltering heat as well. 'We will focus on tourist areas, and this will be announced,' said Nga after launching the Semarak Jiwa Merdeka event at his ministry here yesterday. He added that garbage collection frequency would also be increased from two or three times to four times a week to ensure more consistent waste management. To further improve hygiene, a deep cleaning programme using waterjet systems will be implemented at selected locations to eliminate dust and grime. Nga also revealed plans to gradually roll out electric garbage trucks nationwide as part of the country's transition to a net-zero emissions economy. 'Garbage trucks powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels will be introduced this year.' In addition to public cleaning reforms, the ministry is tasked with delivering one million affordable homes between 2026 and 2035, as outlined in the 13MP, which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week. Nga also said the Urban Renewal Bill is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat during the current parliamentary sitting ending this month.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Electric garbage trucks to be deployed at tourist hotspots
Published on: Friday, August 08, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 08, 2025 By: Yee Suet Mun, FMT Text Size: The initiative will first focus on strategic locations in the capital such as Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor. (Wikipedia pic) PUTRAJAYA: Electric garbage trucks will be deployed at major tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur such as Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor to modernise public cleansing and cut carbon emissions, says housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming. Nga said the initiative by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation was part of a broader reform under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), aimed at achieving zero carbon emissions by 2035. Advertisement The initiative will include midnight cleaning shifts to avoid disrupting traffic, as well as weather-friendly operations and 'deep cleansing' with water jets for dust-free streets. 'We will start with tourist destinations, as next year is Visit Malaysia 2026. The initial focus will be on strategic locations in the capital such as Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, and other key areas,' Nga said after launching the ministry's Semarak Jiwa Merdeka campaign here today. Nga said the midnight cleaning programme, to be piloted in high-traffic tourist areas in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, had proven successful in several developed cities in China such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. On July 31, he said in Parliament that the 13MP would introduce major changes to the national cleaning system, including the use of electric vehicles for night cleaning and dust-free road initiatives. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Urban Renewal Act to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat this month
PUTRAJAYA: The proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) is expected to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat this month, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. "I plan to table the URA Act, a law that will promote the well-being of the people, especially in urban areas, during this Merdeka month," he told reporters after launching the Semarak Jiwa Merdeka event at his ministry today. In April, he said the URA was in its final stage, with the final draft of the legislation submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for final vetting. He said the ministry had undertaken extensive consultations during the drafting process, describing it as one of the most thorough exercises ever conducted for a piece of legislation. These sessions included discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, such as house buyers' associations, housing developers' associations, universities, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the Special Select Committee on Nation-Building. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government's move to introduce the URA was rooted in the need to provide better living conditions for Malaysians long trapped in dilapidated housing. Anwar said the legal status of land involved in the urban renewal projects would remain unchanged, regardless of whether it was privately owned, under state authority, or located on Malay Reserve land.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Night cleaning pilot project at KL tourist hotspots
PUTRAJAYA: A pilot project for night cleaning operations will begin soon at strategic tourist locations in the city centre, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. He said among the areas identified are Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor. Nga said the initiative is part of the Public Cleansing Reform under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). "The night cleaning operation has proven successful in developed cities such as Shanghai. "This is a better approach, as our workers are currently forced to work under hot weather conditions. "If they work at night, the weather is cooler. More importantly, it will not interfere with traffic, especially in congested tourist areas," he told reporters after the launch of the Semarak Jiwa Merdeka event at his ministry today. Nga added that the ministry will also introduce a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) for garbage collection. "This is to enable us to achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2035. "Therefore, through the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), we will be introducing EV garbage trucks starting this year, marking a significant shift in our waste management system." Nga said the ministry will also implement deep cleansing in strategic areas. "We will use water jet technology to ensure the cleaning is done without dust." He added that several new initiatives will also be rolled out to increase the frequency of garbage collection. "Currently, it may be once or twice a week. This will be increased to four times a week to better manage growing waste levels," he said. He added that starting January next year, all shopping malls must provide recycling facilities. "Business licences will not be renewed without compliance. "This move supports the government's goal of improving Malaysia's recycling rate, currently far below the European Union's average of 65 per cent. "It is crucial that we educate our children about recycling—reduce, reuse, recycle," Nga said. Recently, at the 2025 Cleaners' Day Appreciation Ceremony, Nga announced several reforms under the 13MP, marking a major shift in the national cleaning management landscape. He said these reforms are especially timely as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
