KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has ordered the closure of 417 premises due to hygiene violations in the first seven months of this year.
The Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa stressed that the premises must conduct the necessary cleaning or have their licence suspended.
"The cleaning involves various aspects, including waste management, and the toilets must also be clean. Although these may seem like small matters, they (the premises) are attractions for tourists.
"A clean kitchen with lots of good food is certainly among the key aspects. Therefore, these are among the priorities that we must address," she said.
Dr Zaliha was speaking to reporters after launching Malaysia Clean-Up Day: Mega Cleaning Programme in conjunction with World Clean-Up Day 2024 at the Central Market here on Saturday (Sept 28).
Regarding business licences, Dr Zaliha said that these regulations have been in place for a long time and that authorities would strengthen enforcement.
"We have been implementing this for several years, but this time we are tightening enforcement even further and will take strict action. This time we won't be lenient," she stated.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif any premises found with rats, lizards, or poor maintenance in the kitchen or the toilets, as well as the surrounding area, will be closed.
"We have done this according to existing DBKL licensing by-laws, which have been in place for a long time, but we are tightening the regulations further because cleanliness is a priority for DBKL," she added.
In her speech, Dr Zaliha said Malaysians dispose of around 38,000 tons of solid waste daily, or an average of 1.17kg per person.
"If we make a comparison, this amount could fill the Bukit Jalil Stadium, which can accommodate over 87,000 people, in just 12 days," she said.
In Kuala Lumpur alone, city residents produce 2,044 tons of waste daily, costing DBKL approximately RM226mil a year.
"This is a significant expenditure, and if we can reduce it, the funds could potentially be redirected to development projects that benefit the citizens," Dr Zaliha added.
