 Even the state's reputation for cleanliness was not spared, as reports of coastal pollution and dirty streets within Penang made headline news.As early as 1996, the then Malaysian Prime Mninister, Mahathir Mohamad, had even labelled Penang a ""garbage state"".Widespread dissatisfaction over Penang's decline and neglect sparked a media campaign to restore Penang to its former glory in 2004.