Public interest litigation (PIL) serves as a platform to address public grievance against the government and to improve people’s access to legal remedies. This article explores PIL within the framework of heritage sites protection and conservation in Malaysia, with focus on the issue of locus standi and its evolution within judicial precedent. This article also sheds light on the current practice of PIL, public involvement in heritage site designation process, public consultation in conservation management, and their surrounding challenges. By applying doctrinal approach and comparative analysis of PIL practice in India and Australia, this article concludes that PIL practice in Malaysia falls short, particularly concerning the protection of heritage sites. It underscores the necessity for legislative and judicial initiatives to bolster PIL's efficacy in heritage conservation efforts within Malaysia.