Starting tomorrow (1 January 2026), anyone caught spitting or littering in public places can be fined up to RM2,000.
Director of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Health and Environment Department (JKAS), Dr Nor Halizam Ismail, announced that the local council will intensify enforcement through regular anti-littering and anti-spitting operations throughout Kuala Lumpur. This move aligns with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026),
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Those who spit and litter in public may also be subject to community service
Offenders will also be sentenced to a Community Service Order of more than 12 hours over a period of 6 months.
“The compound issued can reach up to RM2,000, depending on the offence committed. Our aim is not merely to punish, but to educate the public to be more disciplined and to respect the shared public spaces,” Dr Nor Halizam stated.
She added that to promote the image of a clean city, DBKL has also designated four litter-free zones, namely:
- Jalan Bukit Bintang
- Dataran Merdeka
- Jalan Tun Perak
- Brickfields commercial area
The DBKL JKAS director clarified that these efforts will focus on tourist hotspots to curb habits among both locals and tourists. These include discarding small items, such as cigarette butts and drink bottles, in public places, as well as spitting on walkways.
The cleanliness of public toilets and food premises is equally important
Additionally, Dr Nor Halizam stated that owners and contractors will face action if they fail to comply with the prescribed cleanliness standards.
“We monitor approximately 7,450 food premises at all times to ensure there is no food contamination or breeding of vector animals such as rats, cockroaches,” she said during a BERNAMA TV programme.
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DBKL will also take public toilet cleanliness seriously, monitoring them regularly and responding to complaints as they are received.
What do you think of these new measures?
