In conjunction with World Clean Up Day, the Ipoh City Council organized a massive clean-up session in the city.
Present to launch the ceremony was State Exco for Housing and Local Government, YB Sandrea Ng Shy Ching who was representing Perak Menteri Besar.
Accompanying her was Ipoh City Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah along with City Council Members, as well as other council members, department heads, officers, and staff of MBI.
In the speech read on behalf of the Chief Minister, YAB Menteri Besar of Perak expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), the Local Government Division, the State Secretary’s Office of Perak (SUK), MBI, strategic partners, NGOs, educational institutions, the private sector, and the local community for working hand-in-hand to ensure the success of this mega cleanliness program.
The annual initiative is based on a large-scale communal cleaning (gotong-royong) effort across the country, involving activities such as area clean-ups, recycling, reduction of single-use plastic usage, and public awareness campaigns on cleanliness and environmental sustainability.
At the Ipoh city level, this marks the second edition of the program. As of July 2025, MBI has organized 36 community gotong-royong programs with the involvement of council members, NGOs, educational institutions, and the private sector.
For the record, the session achieved three national records in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR), namely:
- a) Participation of 58,007 people nationwide,
- b) Collection of 4,645.5 metric tonnes of solid waste in one day,
- c) The longest gotong-royong, lasting 12 continuous hours.
This year, KPKT is targeting 100,000 participants nationwide.
In line with the Smart & Green City 2030 aspiration, MBI continues to introduce various sustainability initiatives, including:
- a) Collection of 234 tonnes of used cooking oil (Jan–July 2025),
- b) Collection of 4 tonnes of e-waste,
- c) Collection of 498 tonnes of used tyres,
- d) A recycling program with cash rewards (Trash4Cash) in collaboration with Majuperak Utilities Management (MUMSB),
- e) Operation of the Automatic Drive-Thru Recycling Centre (ADTReC), which operates 24 hours daily.
These measures not only reduce waste disposal at landfills but also open up new economic opportunities through systematic recycling practices.
Sandrea also emphasized that key challenges such as solid waste pollution, illegal dumping, and overburdened landfill sites require an integrated approach involving public education, law enforcement, and the provision of adequate infrastructure.
She also called on all citizens to cultivate a culture of cleanliness starting from home, by segregating waste at the source, sending used cooking oil and e-waste to recycling centers, and participating in community clean-up programs.
“The culture of cleanliness is not formed overnight—it is born from small but consistent practices. If the people of Ipoh are united, this city can become a model of a clean, green, and sustainable city by 2030.
“This program is hoped to instill a culture of cleanliness among Ipoh residents, thus supporting the MADANI Government’s aspirations for people’s well-being, environmental sustainability, and shared prosperity,” she added.