Report a problem in your area in Penang: potholes, lights, drains, dumping, noise

The short version

Most street problems in Penang, such as potholes on local roads, blocked drains, broken street lights and dumped rubbish, go to your city council: MBPP on the island or MBSP on the mainland. Use the council's complaint app, portal or hotline, which are listed in MBPP or MBSP: which council.

The main exceptions:

• Potholes on federal roads are for JKR, through the federal MyJalan app.
• Street lights on concrete poles in Seberang Perai are maintained by TNB, not MBSP: TNB's line is 15454.
• Noise from factories, building projects (EIA projects) or vehicles goes to the Department of Environment (JAS): e-Aduan JAS, the myJAS Aduan app, or hotline 1-800-88-2727.

If anyone is in danger, see Who to call in Penang first.

Which agency for which problem

Potholes and damaged roads

Who fixes a road depends on who owns it. As published in 2024, Penang's state executive councillor for infrastructure, transport and digital, Zairil Khir Johari, said JKR investigates and acts on federal roads, and the relevant council (PBT) on state roads. He said the public can report damaged roads or potholes through JKR's official channels, such as MyJalan, JKR's complaint email and its complaint line, and report state roads to the relevant council.

MyJalan is the federal Works Ministry's app for reporting road damage. The ministry told Parliament in August 2025 that it had received 39,371 complaints since the app's launch in August 2023, up to 30 June 2025. Of these, 30.4% were about federal roads under the ministry, and 69.6% were about roads under state governments and other agencies. You can report without being at the site. The app is on the Apple Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery.

Sources: Sinar Harian, 3 October 2024 and RTM, 6 August 2025, read 2026-10-14.

Street lights

Seberang Perai: MBSP says there are 2 kinds of street light. Lights on galvanised or iron poles are maintained by MBSP; lights on concrete poles are maintained by TNB. MBSP counts 9,173 iron poles and 42,856 TNB concrete poles across the three Seberang Perai districts.

• Iron or galvanised pole: MBSP, 8am to 5pm, 04-549 7608; after office hours, 24 hours, toll free 1-800-88-6777.
• Concrete pole: TNB, 15454.

Penang Island: MBPP lists street lights (lampu) among the public facilities it provides and maintains, as published in 2022. No MBPP page says whether TNB maintains some lights on the island, as it does on the mainland.

Sources: MBSP, Lampu Jalan and MBPP, Fungsi Majlis, read 2026-10-14.

Blocked drains

MBPP lists roads and drains (jalan & parit) and drainage (perparitan) among its services, as published in 2022. On the mainland, MBSP publishes a monsoon drain cleaning schedule page, but the page still shows the schedule for 2017. For a blocked drain, report it to your council. For flooding, see Floods in Penang.

Sources: MBPP, Fungsi Majlis and MBSP, Jadual Pembersihan Parit Monsun, read 2026-10-14.

Rubbish, dumping and littering

In Penang, rubbish collection is a council job: MBPP lists rubbish collection and disposal among its services, and MBSP runs its own collection. The Star noted that the federal solid waste law (Act 672) applies in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; Penang is not on that list.

Missed collection on the mainland: MBSP says it collects from houses 3 times a week, from roadside compactor bins and ro-ro bins every day, and garden waste once a week, on Saturday or Sunday. MBSP's page gives no separate line for missed collections; its complaint channels are listed in MBPP or MBSP: which council.

Littering: Penang began full enforcement on 1 July 2026, the Star reported. Offenders are prosecuted under the Local Government Act 2025 (Act 1772) and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 2025 (Act 1773), and can be fined up to RM2,000, ordered to do up to 12 hours of community service, or both. Enforcement officers use body camera recordings as evidence.

For bulky items you need to throw away yourself, see Get rid of a sofa, mattress or fridge.

Sources: MBPP, Fungsi Majlis, MBSP, Perkhidmatan Kebersihan Alam Sekitar and The Star, 1 July 2026, read 2026-10-14.

Abandoned cars

Bernama reported in September 2026 that MBPP removes abandoned or tyreless vehicles that block public parking, using a loader with a crane bought in 2022 for vehicles a normal tow truck cannot move safely. No MBSP page on abandoned cars is published, and neither council publishes a notice period or what the owner is told.

Source: Bernama, 14 September 2026, read 2026-10-14.

Noise, smoke and pollution

The Department of Environment (Jabatan Alam Sekitar, JAS) handles pollution complaints under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127). Its list includes noise and vibration from industry, EIA projects or motor vehicles; open burning; factory and vehicle smoke; smells from industry; and pollution of drains, rivers and the sea. JAS says it investigates only complete complaints that fall under Act 127, so give full details.

• Online: e-Aduan JAS (eaduan.doe.gov.my).
• App: myJAS Aduan, on Google Play and Apple's App Store.
• Phone: hotline 1-800-88-2727; complaint line 03-8889 1972.
• Email: aduan_k@doe.gov.my.

JAS's list covers noise from industry, EIA projects and vehicles; neither council's page says who handles noise from neighbours, parties or barking dogs.

Sources: e-Aduan JAS and JAS, Hubungi Kami, read 2026-10-14.

Related

• MBPP or MBSP: which council is yours
• Who to call in Penang
• Stray animals and pests
• Floods in Penang