MELAKA: The National Cleanliness Policy to be launched here tomorrow is set to transform Malaysia into a clean and sustainable nation through habits and lifestyles that places emphasis on good hygiene practices.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the policy would take effect next year, spanning a decade until 2030 with a review to be done midway in 2025.
The policy will focus on five clusters, along with 14 comprehensive strategies, besides outlining 87 action plans to be carried out by the federal and state governments, local authorities and the relevant agencies.
“The clusters outlined under the National Cleanliness Policy are awareness on cleanliness, the sustainability of the environment, circular economy, governance and quality and skilled human capital,” she said in a statement to Bernama.
She said the policy has the objective of raising awareness on the roles of the community in national cleanliness, to improve and then maintain the cleanliness of the environment, to promote the culture of recycling waste into a source of income (waste to money) and to fortify governance and enforcement for improved effectiveness, better efficiency and integrity.
Zuraida said the objectives were also in tandem with the country’s initiative to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.
She said the lackadaisical attitude of Malaysians who pay little attention to the importance of preserving the environment could bring about a negative impact, and this includes disorganised waste disposal, wanton littering and illegal waste dumping.
“The environment is dirty as a result of indiscriminate littering and waste disposal and this brings about problems such as foul stench and environmental pollution, including on our waterways.
“A dirty environment will also lead to vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and leptospirosis that will only cause more problems in society,” she said.
By 2030, the policy is hoped to achieve its target of bringing about mindset and habitual changes in society in all aspects of hygiene and cleanliness involving one’s self, family, community and the environment. – Bernama
