KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8, 2025 — Malaysian taxpayers have funded nearly RM281.9 million in allocations since 2024 for the upkeep and upgrading of public facilities nationwide, reflecting the government’s sustained effort to improve community infrastructure and living standards.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming told the Dewan Negara that the allocation covered a total of 1,730 projects ranging from the maintenance of public toilets and multipurpose halls to the upgrading of recreational parks and facilities.
“Through the Local Government Department, the ministry has also provided funding for small-scale projects under the BP.1 Development Project to all 156 local authorities nationwide,” Nga said. He explained that the funds were disbursed based on applications submitted by local councils and divided into four key scopes: infrastructure, public facilities, socioeconomics, and security.
The spending is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at elevating standards of public cleanliness and recreational facilities management. Nga was responding to a query from Senator Datuk Mustafa Musa, who pressed the government for clearer targets in reforming the national public cleansing system, particularly with regard to maintaining parks and green spaces.
Public Cleansing and Waste Management
Beyond facility upgrades, Nga highlighted that the federal government has also outsourced waste collection and cleansing services to three concession companies under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. These companies are mandated to manage solid waste and public park cleanliness in states that have adopted the Act.
In states that have not opted into the federal waste management framework, responsibility for park maintenance and public cleansing continues to rest with individual local authorities. This dual framework, Nga noted, underscores the varying levels of autonomy and responsibility among Malaysia’s states when it comes to environmental and facility upkeep.
Embracing Technology for Smarter Maintenance
Looking ahead, Nga said the ministry is open to integrating new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to monitor facility conditions and ensure higher standards of cleanliness. These tools could provide more efficient ways to detect damage, track usage, and identify problem areas, reducing reliance on manual inspections and speeding up response times for repairs.
Industry analysts see this move as part of a broader digitalisation push in Malaysia’s public services. AI-powered monitoring could help address long-standing issues such as underutilised funds, delayed repairs, and inconsistent cleanliness standards, while drones offer cost-effective surveillance of sprawling parks and recreational areas.
With RM281 million already invested and reforms underway, the government’s challenge now is to ensure consistent delivery of services and transparency in implementation, especially as citizens increasingly demand cleaner, safer, and better-maintained public spaces.
