PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s tougher stance on littering and river pollution may deter offenders in the short term but environmental advocates warn that fines and enforcement alone will not bring about the cultural shift needed to protect the nation’s waterways.
Instead, they argue that lasting change depends on a combination of community ownership, systemic reform and sustained public education – without which enforcement risks becoming a blunt tool that delivers compliance without care.
Klang River Festival (KRF) co-creator Faith Foo said public awareness about littering and its environmental impact has improved over the years, but has yet to translate into consistent, long-term behavioural change.
“Public awareness of littering has definitely increased, but not to the point of a true cultural tipping point.”
While more Malaysians now recognise the environmental damage caused by littering, Foo noted that responsibility for waste management is still often treated as an afterthought rather than a shared social obligation.
He said meaningful progress requires continuous reminders of why river protection matters, alongside clearer and more visible ways for people to practise responsible waste habits in their daily lives.
Foo also said visible collective action remains one of the strongest catalysts for change.
“When people see communities working together and building momentum, it reinforces the idea that individual efforts are meaningful and can be adapted into personal lifestyles.”
On enforcement, Foo cautioned that punitive approaches could backfire if they are not aligned with community values or supported by local voices.
He said enforcement mechanisms must foster a sense of shared ownership over public spaces, rather than alienate the very communities they aim to protect.
Foo added that KRF plans to continue its year-round river care initiatives, building on programmes such as the Klang River Fellows initiative, which engages secondary school students in environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, he said reducing waste at the source remains Malaysia’s most urgent priority.
KRF community architect Scarlet Koon echoed the call for broader public responsibility, stressing that river protection goes far beyond compliance with laws.
“Ninety-seven per cent of our water comes from rivers and it affects every aspect of our lives. There are fines and enforcement because there is no strong culture of caring yet. Rivers should not be protected by small groups alone – they should be cared for by 100% of the people.”
Hara Makers co-founder and CEO Hung Bee Ling highlighted the role of systems in shaping individual behaviour, noting that while personal responsibility matters, people’s choices are heavily influenced by the environments they live in.
“Waste builds up fast with overpackaging and our single-use culture. Even with good intentions, if the system doesn’t change, the waste problem won’t either.”
Hung said community service penalties can be effective only if they go beyond punishment and are designed as learning experiences, adding that old habits often return once enforcement eases.
