99 Speedmart has channeled money collected from charging consumers 20 sen for each plastic shopping bag amounting to RM550,000 back to the Klang Municipal Council (MPK). - FilePic
RETAIL chain 99 Speedmart has channeled money collected from charging consumers 20 sen for each plastic shopping bag amounting to RM550,000 back to the Klang Municipal Council (MPK).
Another local authority, the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), will be the company's next recipient.
MPK said a portion of the RM550,000 fund would be used for cleaning up the royal town.
Council secretary Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi said the contribution from 99 Speedmart was timely as the council was just embarking on improving the cleanliness of the royal town and would be using part of the fund for this purpose.
He commended the company for its willingness to give away the money collected from consumers under the Selangor Government’s zero plastic campaign for a noble cause.
“We are proud that MPK has been selected by the company as the first recipient of the grant,” he said after chairing the monthly full board meeting on Wednesday.
Adi Faizal said the retail chain decided to give the money to two local authorities as part of its corporate social responsibility, with the second council benefitting from this being the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
According to him, prior to the company’s decision, the council had – through its corporate communication department – submitted a project paper on how the money would be utilised .
Besides cleaning up of the town, Adi Faizal said, the money would be also used for beautifying of the Klang River.
The Klang River project will see the council working with the non-governmental organisations (NGO).
He added that the money would be also used to support the Visit Klang Year 2017 programme.
“We have lined up several Visit Klang programmes to sell Klang as a tourist desitation among local tourists and foreigners. The extra money will be a big help,” Adi Faizal stated.
He clarified that the council had no intention of pressuring retailers, supermarkets or hypermarkets to channel money collected from the 20 sen charge to the local authority.
“We will leave it to the individual companies to decide on what they intend to do with the money,” he said.
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