Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reminded the public to take greater responsibility for keeping shared spaces clean after Dataran Merdeka was left littered with rubbish following a World Cup 2026 final viewing event.
In a Facebook post on Monday, DBKL expressed disappointment over the condition of the historic landmark after thousands of football fans gathered there to watch the final between Spain and Argentina on a giant screen.
Dataran Merdeka left covered in rubbish after football gathering
The city council said the atmosphere was filled with excitement as fans came together to celebrate the match, but the scene changed after the event ended, with rubbish scattered across the field.
“Thousands came to cheer, celebrate football and enjoy the excitement. However, when the cheers stopped, the historic field was left covered with waste,” DBKL said.
DBKL deploys cleaning teams after World Cup final event
The council added that its cleaning teams would be sent to clear the rubbish, but stressed that keeping Kuala Lumpur clean should be a shared responsibility rather than something that depends entirely on cleanup crews after every public gathering.
DBKL reminded the public that Dataran Merdeka is not just an open space but a place with deep historical and national significance.
“The way we leave it reflects how much we value it,” the council said.
DBKL reminds Malaysians to value and protect shared spaces
While acknowledging that people should be free to celebrate and enjoy public events, DBKL said that having fun should not come at the expense of shared spaces. It added that a great city is not only judged by how it looks during celebrations, but also by the condition it is left in afterwards.
“Kuala Lumpur is our home. Let’s take care of it the same way we care for our own homes,” DBKL said.
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