The Malaysian Cabinet agreed on July 29 to extend the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) to cover all 12 local authorities in Selangor on a phased basis starting in 2026 under the 13th Malaysia Plan framework [1, 2, 3, 4]. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said a special task force will coordinate the implementation with the goal of Selangor achieving "a public cleansing standard befitting a world-class status." He added, "When Malaysians sleep, we clean. When Malaysians wake up, the country is already clean and well-ordered" [1]. Previous applications of Act 672 covered Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Kedah, Perlis, and Pahang, but not Selangor or several northern and eastern states [1, 2, 4]. The act aims to strengthen waste segregation at source, increase national recycling rates, replace fossil fuel garbage trucks with electric vehicles, and shift waste collection to nighttime operations [1, 2, 3, 4]. The expansion coincides with the Sultan of Selangor's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 2026 [1].
Meanwhile, Panasonic AVC Networks Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Sdn Bhd plans to halt television production in Selangor by September 2026 and fully close its Shah Alam plant by March 2027, impacting about 400 workers [5, 6, 7]. Blu-ray disc production will end in September 2026 and Technics-branded Hi-Fi audio products by February 2027 [6, 7]. Panasonic currently has no buyer for the plant but will continue selling TVs and audio products in Malaysia by outsourcing production, including to Chinese contractors [6].
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government will obtain detailed information on affected Panasonic workers from social security and labour authorities to coordinate job placement and entrepreneurship training. He added that the Selangor JobCare Carnival Tour platform will help offer new employment opportunities, while labour departments will maintain close contact to support affected workers' welfare. Amirudin said, "My party is committed to ensuring that every worker receives fair career transition support, including helping to stabilise the local labour market and reducing the social impact on the affected workers" [5, 7].
The Act 672 extension is part of broader public cleansing reforms under the National Public Cleansing Policy and the 13th Malaysia Plan [1, 2, 4]. Fines for first-time littering offenders under the act can reach RM2,000 and include up to 12 hours of community service [3]. Selangor’s phased rollout across all 12 local authorities will continue throughout 2026 and beyond [1, 3, 4]. Panasonic’s plant closure is scheduled for March 2027, marking a significant job impact milestone [6, 7].
