Nga Kor Ming Asked Malaysians ‘How Can You Litter Without Any Shame?’
When the minister responsible for the nation’s cleanliness asked Malaysians how they could litter without shame at Dataran Merdeka, the public had a simpler question back: where were the bins, and where was the enforcement?
- Nga Kor Ming expressed deep disappointment after Dataran Merdeka was left covered in rubbish following World Cup final celebrations.
- Despite anti-littering laws carrying fines up to RM2,000, the public questioned why enforcement was absent during such a crowded event.
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Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Nga Kor Ming posted a photograph of Dataran Merdeka this morning.
The Malaysian flag was in the background, and the lawn was covered in rubbish — left behind by thousands of fans who had gathered the previous night to watch the live screening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
He expressed disappointment and disbelief, directed at Malaysians who litter in public spaces despite decades of education and independence.
Our country has been independent for nearly 70 years. Everyone has been to school. May I ask: until when will we understand the meaning of cleanliness? How could you bear to throw rubbish everywhere without any shame? Sad, I feel very sad.
He tagged it #MalaysiaBersih and #RancakkanMadani.
As the KPKT minister, Nga holds the federal responsibility for the nation’s urban cleanliness, solid waste management, and the oversight of local authorities.
Negara kita dah Merdeka hampir 70 tahun.
— Nga Kor Ming (@NgaKorMing) July 20, 2026
Semua orang ada pergi sekolah.
Tolong tanya : Sampai bila kita nak erti jaga kebersihan?
Sampai hati buang sampah merata tempat dan tanpa segan silu?
Sedih, saya berasa sangat sedih. 😓#MalaysiaBersih#RancakkanMadani pic.twitter.com/s4q7SmAOq4
This Is Not The First Time
This is not the first time Nga has stood in front of a photograph of Malaysian rubbish and told the public to be ashamed.
Seven months ago, in December 2025, he posted images of Christmas Eve debris scattered across Bukit Bintang — cups, wrappers, scattered debris left behind after the crowd had gone home — and wrote: “Please stop littering and don’t embarrass Malaysia. Grow up, please!!”
The internet responded not with remorse, but with a receipt: a screenshot of an Utusan Malaysia headline reporting that nearly 20 metric tonnes of rubbish had been left behind after Himpunan Turun Anwar, a rally by the minister’s own political coalition, captioned simply — “sebab itu la jangan jadi bangang bila bercakap.”
Others pointed to a more structural failure: @JatIkhwan, whose reply drew 21,000 impressions, noted he had never seen a single enforcement officer act against a litterer at Bukit Bintang, while @anisfarid observed that one of KL’s busiest corridors does not have enough rubbish bins to begin with.
@isaac_mxsch put it plainly: “Yes. Littering is wrong. But so is bad planning. This Christmas Eve disaster happens every year, but somehow we see zero control.”
The sentiment in December was identical to this morning, the location was different, and the outcome — a minister’s frustration meeting a public’s counter-frustration — was exactly the same.
Please stop littering & don’t embarrass Malaysia.
— Nga Kor Ming (@NgaKorMing) December 25, 2025
It is already the 21st century, there is no reason for anyone to simply throw rubbish in public places.
It is so shameful to see such irresponsible behaviour.
Don’t blame the govt when we enforce the law.
Grow up, please!! pic.twitter.com/BgAStITqh5
“Kuala Lumpur Is Our Home, Do Not Dirty Your Own Home”
Meanwhile, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh did not stop at disappointment — she drew a line.
She opened by saying she believes KL residents genuinely love their city, which is precisely why the state of Dataran Merdeka after the celebrations hurt.
While the crowd had gone home, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) workers stayed behind to clean through the night, and she thanked them by name.
But her message to the public was direct: the right for taxpayers to receive public services does not mean every responsibility can be handed to a civil servant.
Putting rubbish into a bin, she said, is the bare minimum a person should do for themselves.
Malaysia Madani is not only about a government that fulfils its responsibilities — but it is also about citizens who know how to demand their rights but do not forget to do the basics.
The Law Already Exists
The irony is that Malaysia is not without teeth on this issue.
Under anti-littering laws enforced across states including Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Penang, anyone caught littering or spitting in public faces fines of up to RM2,000 — and, under stricter provisions, up to 12 hours of mandatory community service, such as sweeping streets or clearing drains, to be completed within six months.
The law applies equally to locals, expatriates, and tourists; foreigners issued a notice who fail to appear in court risk future immigration complications.
Since the stricter laws kicked in at the start of this year, authorities have quietly deployed plainclothes officers across busy public spaces — and have already caught and prosecuted people, including foreigners, for littering.
The question the public has been asking is not whether the law exists — it is why, at one of KL’s most photographed public squares on one of its most crowded nights, it was not seen to be enforced.
@kpkt_malaysia Pesalah Buang Sampah Di Hukum Hari Ini. #MalaysiaMADANI #StrongerTogether #DemiPertiwi #UnityInDiversity ♬ Suspense Investigation – RealTunesStudio
READ MORE: Fans Packed Dataran Merdeka For World Cup Final, But Left Their Garbage Behind
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