No more plastic at state functions, says Malaysian official

MALAYSIA — Putrajaya has issued a memo instructing all government agencies to stop using plastic at their events starting April, said a ministry official.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change deputy secretary-general Dr K. Nagulendran said the government, which had 1.6 million employees, had to take the matter in hand.

“We feel that the government needs to take the lead and we are very encouraged that they will not be using (bottled) mineral water, plastic wrap and other (plastic) stuff at their functions.

All this will be stopped,” he said after a Green Tech event in Bandar Baru Bangi, today. 

Dr Nagulendran was commenting on the roadmap on zero single-use plastics, which plans to see the end of plastic drinking straws and carrier bags by 2030.

He said the ministry would focus on eliminating plastic bags and straws in the first phase.

“We are trying to ask the state governments to start charging shoppers for plastic bags.

“The tax collected will go to cleaning up the environment.”

Dr Nagulendran said the ministry had engaged with the agencies through workshops on how to implement this.

“We have given them time to do this and we are happy with the progress in the states.

“As for the straws, we are not trying to say that there are (absolutely) no straws. If the consumer has some medical difficulties then they should be given straws.”

Dr Nagulendran said the ministry had also intensified research efforts into bio resin as an alternative to plastic.

“The ministry recently came out with three grants to study bio resin.

“The country is blessed with huge amounts of biodiversity and bio mass.

“So there is potential to move towards alternative polymers that are friendly to the environment.”

He said that to support the no-single-use plastic roadmap the ministry has proposed the use of biodegradable resins. The ministry has received the applications for the grants, and the projects would be starting soon, he said.

 “We hope that when our second phase kicks off in 2022 we will have some really effective biodegradable materials to introduce to the public.”

He said that the ministry was working with the Housing and Local government Ministry to create public awareness.

“We need to change the mindset on the usage of plastic and show them an alternative way like bringing their own bags and containers.

“Eventually it will become a lifestyle”. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT