MINISTER in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh, expressed her disappointment after finding Dataran Merdeka filled with piles of rubbish after the World Cup final early this morning.
"I believe the people of Kuala Lumpur love this city. That is why I am disappointed that Dataran Merdeka, after being a place where we cheer and have fun together, is left in this condition," she said in a statement.
Hannah, in her social media post, also uploaded a picture of the condition of Dataran Merdeka today, which was filled with rubbish and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) staff were cleaning it.
"Thank you to the DBKL team who immediately came down to clean this area. When the public returned, they were still working to restore the cleanliness of Dataran Merdeka.
"Yes, I know that every taxpayer deserves good services. DBKL must carry out its responsibilities, and it did.
"But throwing rubbish in the bin is a basic thing that we should do ourselves," she said.
According to Hannah, the right to receive services does not mean that all responsibilities can be handed over to public servants.
They should not be forced to clean up the garbage we deliberately leave behind, she said.
“Dataran Merdeka is not just an event location. It is part of the country’s history and the dignity of our city.
Civil Malaysia is not just about the government fulfilling its responsibilities. It is also about the people who know how to demand their rights but do not forget to implement basic things,” she said.
As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim often emphasises, progress is not only measured through physical development but also through our attitude in respecting and caring for public spaces. – July 20, 2026
