THE Selangor government is reviewing its existing ban on polystyrene packaging and even single-use plastic, to assess if stricter measures are needed before legal measures could be enforced state-wide.
State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said there was also a need to establish a specific Act or legal measure to enforce the ban (whether at state or local government level).
“The state government has been focusing on awareness and education all this while, by advocating for a ban rather than enforcement,” she said.
“We have received feedback from local councils based on the on-ground situation that there are certain difficulties in banning and issuing penalties because of existing regulations.”
Jamaliah personally feels that it is easier to enforce the ban on polystyrene packaging than single-use plastic.
“It’s more difficult to ban hawkers from using plastic bags. But there is a list of businesses where single-use plastic bags are banned, such as franchises and restaurants (and other large-scale businesses),” she said.
“There are no states in Malaysia that are able to completely ban plastic bag usage for now, although Selangor and Penang are most active in their advocacy.
“However, Selangor also needs to ensure its ban on single-use plastic aligns with the national policy under the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, such as in terms of timeline and regulation.”
Jamaliah said it was difficult to commit to a specific timeline to reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastic, as it requires a long process that includes discussions and engagements with enforcement officers, State Economic Planning Unit, local authorities, industry players and key stakeholders to understand the on-ground situation and to get the best solution.
“For example, we need to assess when is the right moment to stop the usage of plastic bags, or whether we should encourage the use of biodegradable plastic bags (as an alternative).
“All these require time, as I want to ensure that a policy is applicable and doable when we make such an announcement,” said Jamaliah, adding that she hopes to commit to another step forward with regard to the ban by this year.
Meanwhile, she stressed that all state government agencies cannot use polystyrene packaging within their premises and to alert her office if they are still used at such offices to assess if further action should be taken.
Jamaliah was speaking after the opening ceremony of Assunta Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre at the hospital located at Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya.
The centre is designed to be a one-stop centre for women’s health, from easy access via the parking on Level Four to registration, consultation with its specialists, lab tests, collection of medication from the pharmacy and payment – all on the same floor.
Present at the launch were Assunta Hospital chief executive officer Wilson Choo, chief operating officer Kong Chew Yen and Assunta Hospital’s board of directors.
In her speech, Jamaliah said her office also has been working with Assunta Hospital for a mobile clinic initiative under the Assunta Integrated Social Services for B40 communities in the Bandar Utama constituency.
The mobile clinic offers basic primary care comprising health consultations and the monitoring of medical conditions for marginalised or underprivileged groups.
