Those living in multilevel residences will no longer be allowed to dry their clothes in the open “where the whole world can see,” effective next year.
This follows a government decision to tackle the eye-sore problem once and for all, and to clean up the image of Malaysian cities by coming up with a guideline for both developers and residents of such buildings.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said a guideline should be in place so that developers would be made responsible for preparing a special area or the proper facilities in its properties for drying clothes.
“We can see today that most people living in multilevel residences like flats, apartments and condominiums dry their clothes in the open. It is unsystematic and affects our efforts to portray a modern image for Malaysian cities.
“For the moment, we will have a guideline so that necessary action can be taken by parties concerned, including residents to have proper equipment and facilities so they need not expose their laundry,” he said after chairing the National Council on Local Government meeting on Tuesday.
The Deputy Prime Minister however said there was nothing punitive about the guideline as the aim was to encourage the public to be more sensitive about the issue.
“For the time being, it is more on making the moral switch. It it does not work, then we have to consider amending existing laws,” he said, adding a circular would be issued by the ministry next year to inform local authorities of the decision.
Najib said it would be the duty of local authorities and the Commissioner of Buildings to inform developers and managements of flats, apartments and condominiums to see to it that the guideline was followed.
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS (The Star)
5 comments
DPM please fix your economy issues before taking care of my laundry.
well said john64.
DPM,if you want us to air our laundry inside, please provide us a DRYER. in this way there is no need to air the laundry at all.
I don't see it has anything to do with moral. First if condo/apartment residents are not allowed to hang clothes in the balcony, where would we hang them? If we hang them inside our washing area (provided our "high rise" does have a built i), it will be stinky when its dry because it does not get any sunlight at all. Plus the balcony and its air space is owned by the respective residents, isn't this violating our freedom to do anything we want with it? Not to say we're doing BBQ in the balcony or something. I believe hanging laundry will not disturb other people as well...
This move is like telling the landed properties house owners that they are not allowed to hang clothes in their compound.
DPM, no offence, try do a laundry once in a condominium and live inside the unit for 1 day and you'll see why this move is not a feasible one.
Don't worry, our leaders all have 51 yrs history to announce something controversial to get attention, here’s just another example, nothing new or fancy. Their policy life span only last a few days or weeks, won’t see the light of effective implementation. They are out of tricks to save our economy from upcoming perfect storm, here they find something to divert out attention.
If they are so free, ask them to find a solution for the gangster contractors issue first. Economy is so bad now and yet they have nth to do with it or don't know what to do to boost up the economy then come out this silly rule. I am wondering what they are doing daily...their thinking is really 51 years old!!! hope the day will end very very soon...those seat belt rule, laundry rule, EPF 3% cut, this n that is really unimaginable and only they can do that....haha...really feel shame with the 51 yrs old "leader"....perhaps this is a way of showing "Malaysia boleh"!!! haha....