LETTER | Recent celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, particularly around the Twin Towers, Bukit Bintang, and TRX, once again highlight an ongoing issue that Malaysians face every year: waste and littering.

With Christmas and New Year celebrations, waste collection inevitably surges. During New Year’s Eve alone, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd reportedly collected 3.2 tonnes of waste.

Although this figure is 11 percent lower than the 3.6 tonnes collected in 2025, it is clear that waste management must still be improved, and it starts with a change in the Malaysian mindset.

Kuala Lumpur remains the country’s tourism capital, welcoming large numbers of visitors during major festive seasons. If every celebration leaves behind mountains of rubbish, how are we to uphold the standards expected of Visit Malaysia 2026?

Visit Malaysia 2026 is meant to bring out the best of what our country has to offer to the world in a single, event-packed year. Yet, we are still receiving reports of large amounts of trash and clean-up efforts with every high turnout celebration.

Cleanliness forms the first impression for tourists and investors alike, and it must be maintained not merely at an acceptable level, but at a standard worthy of praise. A clean city reflects discipline, responsibility, and pride.

The cleanliness and image of our country ultimately start with us. Following New Year’s Eve celebrations, images and videos of widespread litter across the city went viral on social media. What stood out most was not just the rubbish, but the mentality reflected in many comments: the shifting of responsibility.

Many comments along the lines of “others will clean up for us”, or “it is not our job, let those who are hired deal with it”, reveal a mindset that urgently needs to change. As Malaysians, we must move away from what many have described as a “third-world mentality” and take responsibility for cleaning up after ourselves.

When everyone assumes someone else will act, collective irresponsibility takes over. Proper disposal, such as using designated waste bins, is neither difficult nor unreasonable.

Furthermore, while Kuala Lumpur is a capital for tourists and the Twin Towers a major landmark, more than any of this, this city, its landscape, and its mix of cultures are our home.

Keeping our city clean is not just about appearances for visitors, but about ensuring a comfortable, dignified, and healthy living environment for every Malaysian.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.