PBT continues to be empowered in efforts to address environmental health issues - Aiman Athirah

WEDNESDAY, Sept 13: Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) will continue to strengthen local authorities (PBT) in their efforts to address environmental health issues more comprehensively.

Deputy Minister, Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said RM6.427 million has been allocated for the implementation of Environmental Health Campaign in 635 PBT locations across the country from 2021 till this year.

According to him, the provision is to enable PBT to implement more high impact programmes directly to the community.

"At the same time, PBT must continue to be strengthened as a major stronghold and leader in sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development.

"We must recognize together that the measure of a city's success is not to be judged solely from the standpoint of physical development, but rather by its level of environmental hygiene, public health, community well-being and quality of life", he said today.

He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of World Environmental Health Day at National level here today.

At the event, nine PBTs received Star Rating Awards of the Cemerlang PBT Environmental Health Program including North Kuching City Council, Seremban City Council, Batu Pahat Municipal Council and Pengerang Municipal Council.

Among the recipients of the awards were Samarahan Municipal Council, Labuan Corporation, Yan District Council, Pendang District Council and Machang District Council.

Meanwhile, Aiman Athirah said, an integrated approach is also needed to address issues such as urban hygiene, vector-borne diseases, food premises, public markets, public toilets, abandoned animals and environmental pollution.

He said KPKT had increased the financial allocation for implementation of Environmental Health Campaign from RM860,000 in 2025 to RM1.06 million this year through the allocation of Department of Local Government and National Agenda Malaysia Sihat (ANMS).

He said the scope of KPKT's Environmental Health Campaign was expanded from six to eight sub-programs with the addition of the Mushroom Infestation Control Campaign and Clean Night Market Campaign.

The existing campaigns, he said, include the Dengue Epidemic Prevention Campaign, the Mouse Infestation disinfection Campaign, the Clean Food Press Campaign, the Clean Public Market Campaign, the BMW (Clean, Enchanting and Smelling) PBT Public Toilet Campaign as well as the Most Expensive Animal Management Campaign. - TVS