KUALA NERUS, June 10 — The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry is drafting a policy to tackle pollution following global predictions that plastic in oceans will overwhelm the number of fish by 2050.
Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the measure was crucial so plastic waste can be handled more effectively.
“The government has taken several initiatives such as Zero Single-Use Plastics, 2018-2030 and Malaysia’s Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030,” he told reporters after the Environmental Sustainability Tour at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) here today, adding that the government has installed log booms at estuaries as an alternative to stop waste flow to sea.
“With the waste traps, we try to gather as much as possible, but there are limits. Also, they require periodic maintenance to ensure their cleanliness. Otherwise, flood issues and other problems could occur.
“We are considering a suitable policy … besides looking at the possibility of introducing national legislation to reduce single-use plastics to zero plastic use,” he said, noting that waste in oceans were caused by the public’s irresponsible behaviour of throwing rubbish into rivers or seas, as well as some cleaning contractors deliberately dumping rubbish into rivers, which is carried out to sea.
The first leg of the Environmental Sustainability Tour, organised by the ministry with the cooperation of the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation, was held at UMT and aims to involve youth in environmental sustainability.
— Bernama
