Every day, across Malaysian towns and cities, thousands of workers rise before dawn to sweep streets, collect waste, and keep public spaces clean — yet their contributions often go unnoticed by the communities they serve. For many of these dedicated individuals, the lack of formal recognition has long been a quiet frustration, one that underscores a broader gap in how Malaysia values its frontline sanitation workforce. Now, the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is taking a meaningful step to close that gap, announcing plans to nominate recipients of the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award for state honours — bringing long-overdue recognition to Malaysia’s cleaning heroes at the highest level.
Rooted in Service for Decades: KPKT Backs State Honours for Malaysia’s Cleaning Workforce
The Housing and Local Government Ministry has made recognising Malaysia’s cleaning workforce a core part of its community mission, and the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award nominations for state honours represent a landmark moment in that commitment. At the 2026 Cleaning Workers Appreciation Day ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur on August 18, Minister Nga Kor Ming confirmed that he had personally discussed the nomination proposal with KPKT Secretary-General Datuk Dr Wira M Noor Azman Taib to ensure award recipients receive the recognition they deserve.
“I have discussed this with Datuk Wira, and this year’s national cleaning workers award recipients will be listed and nominated to the respective state palaces to receive honours from the respective state rulers,” Minister Nga stated at the ceremony, where Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu was also present.
This initiative draws inspiration from the Penang state government, which has honoured its local cleaning workers for almost 10 years. In Minister Nga’s view, the time has now come for cleaning heroes across all other states to receive the same level of recognition and appreciation from their respective communities.
Serving Communities Across the Nation: The Real Impact of Malaysia’s 26,889 Cleaning Workers
The services provided by Malaysia’s solid waste management and public cleaning sector directly address one of the most fundamental needs of everyday Malaysians — the right to live in a clean, safe, and healthy environment. This sector is currently supported by 26,889 workers employed by concessionaires, many of whom have served for more than a decade, with some dedicating nearly 30 years to the cleaning profession.
At the 2026 Cleaning Workers Appreciation Day event, seven workers received the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award, with two recipients from Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and five from SWM Environment Sdn Bhd. Welfare contributions were also presented to three additional recipients as a gesture of support and concern for the broader cleaning community.
These workers are the reason Malaysian public spaces remain functional and liveable. They operate behind the scenes, often in physically demanding conditions, to deliver a practical community benefit that every resident — from schoolchildren to senior citizens — relies on daily. Minister Nga emphasised that cleaning workers play an indispensable role in keeping the country’s environment clean, safe, and comfortable, even when their efforts go unnoticed.
Inclusive National Recognition: State Honours Open to Cleaning Workers in Every State
It has come to light that KPKT is committed to making state-level recognition accessible to cleaning workers across the entire country, not just those in states that have historically prioritised such honours. This initiative removes a longstanding barrier: previously, formal state recognition for sanitation workers was largely limited to Penang, leaving workers in other states without equivalent acknowledgement of their contributions.
By nominating this year’s award recipients to state palaces nationwide, KPKT is extending the reach of recognition to include cleaning workers from all backgrounds and all regions — from urban concessionaires in Kuala Lumpur to sanitation teams in smaller towns. This approach ensures that no deserving worker is excluded based on geography or institutional precedent, making it a genuinely inclusive step toward honouring the full breadth of Malaysia’s cleaning workforce.
Minister Nga’s call to action is clear: the country’s cleaning heroes in every state deserve due recognition, and the ministry is actively working to make that a reality through official nomination channels.
Public Cleanliness Is a Shared Responsibility: Enforcement, Education, and Community Accountability
Safety and cleanliness are what Malaysian communities care about most, and KPKT has reinforced this commitment through both recognition and accountability measures. Minister Nga stressed that maintaining public cleanliness is not solely the responsibility of cleaning workers — it is a shared responsibility among all Malaysians, central to realising the Malaysia Bersih, Rakyat Sejahtera (Clean and Prosperous Malaysia) aspiration.
To support this goal, the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) has been called upon to strengthen enforcement of the Community Service Order (PKM) under Act 672. As of August 17, 2026, a total of 14,807 offence notices had been issued for cleanliness violations this year. Of these, 548 individuals have undergone Community Service Orders in states that have adopted Act 672 — with 419 having completed their orders and 129 currently still serving.
Minister Nga emphasised that the Community Service Order is not merely a punitive measure, but also an educational instrument designed to instil discipline, personal responsibility, and genuine awareness of public cleanliness across all levels of society. This dual approach — honouring those who serve the community and holding accountable those who undermine it — reflects KPKT’s broader strategy for building a cleaner, more civic-minded Malaysia.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Malaysia’s 2026 Cleaning Workers Honours Initiative
What is the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award, and who received it this year? The 2026 Cleaning Workers Award is a national recognition presented by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to outstanding sanitation workers in Malaysia. At the 2026 Cleaning Workers Appreciation Day ceremony, seven workers received the award — two from Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and five from SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.
Which ministry is nominating cleaning workers for state honours, and why? The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), led by Minister Nga Kor Ming, is nominating the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award recipients for state honours. The purpose is to ensure these workers receive formal recognition from their respective state rulers in acknowledgement of their service and sacrifices in keeping public spaces clean.
How many cleaning workers currently support Malaysia’s solid waste and public cleaning sector? Malaysia’s solid waste management and public cleaning sector is currently supported by 26,889 workers employed by concessionaires. Many have served for more than 10 years, and some have dedicated nearly 30 years to the profession.
Which state has been honouring cleaning workers the longest, and for how long? The Penang state government has been honouring its cleaning workers for almost 10 years, making it the pioneer in this practice. KPKT is now expanding this model of recognition to cleaning workers in all other Malaysian states.
What is a Community Service Order (PKM), and how is it being used to promote cleanliness? A Community Service Order (PKM), enforced under Act 672, requires individuals who commit cleanliness violations to perform community service as both a penalty and an educational measure. As of August 17, 2026, 548 individuals have undergone Community Service Orders, with 419 completing their orders and 129 currently serving them.
How many cleanliness offence notices have been issued in Malaysia in 2026? As of August 17, 2026, SWCorp has issued a total of 14,807 offence notices for cleanliness violations across Malaysia this year.
Is KPKT’s state honours nomination open to cleaning workers from all states in Malaysia? Yes. KPKT’s nomination initiative covers cleaning workers in all Malaysian states. Award recipients will be nominated to their respective state palaces so they may receive honours from their respective state rulers, ensuring nationwide inclusivity in recognising the contributions of Malaysia’s cleaning workforce.
Recognising the Unseen: A Call to Honour Malaysia’s Cleaning Heroes
Malaysia’s cleaning workers are the backbone of every liveable community in this country. They keep streets safe, public spaces usable, and neighbourhoods healthy — often working through the early hours of the morning without fanfare or formal recognition. KPKT’s decision to nominate the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award recipients for state honours is a powerful statement: that those who serve the community with dedication and longevity deserve to be seen, celebrated, and honoured at the highest level.
If you are a cleaning worker, a community leader, or an advocate for Malaysia’s sanitation workforce, stay engaged with KPKT’s ongoing efforts to elevate the status of cleaning professionals nationwide.
For more information on the 2026 Cleaning Workers Award and KPKT’s public cleanliness initiatives, visit the official Housing and Local Government Ministry website or contact KPKT directly through their official channels.
