(From second left) Mohd Rashidi, Hee and Brick at the launch of the single-use, plastic-free community initiative.
SHAH Alam City Council (MBSA) launched a single-use plastic-free community initiative in conjunction with the city’s 22nd anniversary.
Shah Alam was selected as a pioneer for the Collaborative Action for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in South-East Asia (CAP SEA) initiative by Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC).
To faciliate the project, MBSA gazetted Vista Alam, Wisma MBSA and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam as the communities free from single-use plastic.
These three communities, under CAP SEA, are a study by MGTC and German agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
“I am happy to witness the efforts taken for the single-use plastic-free communities by MBSA,” said South-East Asia CAP SEA project leader Christoffer Brick.
“Single-use plastic is convenient but it causes pollution and environmental issues,” he added.
Shah Alam deputy mayor Mohd Rashidi Ruslan said Vista Alam was selected because of its community.
“There are 60 premises and over 1,000 residents. The hawkers in Vista Alam have also agreed not to use single-use plastic, he said.
There are plans to implement this campaign in other states too.
Brick said there were alternatives available to replace plastic items like plastic cups and plates.
“Go for paper instead as it can be recycled. Reusing and recycling is beneficial for the environment and community,” he stressed.
Selangor tourism, environment, green technology and Orang Asli affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the state government collected RM6.4mil in plastic bag fee in 2021 compared to the previous year where RM6.6mil was recorded.
“More people are aware of the environmental issues and they bring their own bags to shop, which supports our campaigns.
“Our two objectives are to raise awareness among the public about the environment and to benefit the environment,” said Hee.
Stricter rules will be enforced on hawkers who give away single-use plastic to customers for free, he added.
