Restaurateurs want authorities to take a friendlier approach

Beginning Jan 1, plastic drinking straws will not be given out at restaurants unless requested as the Federal Territories Ministry prepares to fully enforce the ban on these straws in 2020.

Reports by MEI MEI CHU, MARTIN CARVALHO, ANDY CHUA and MUGUNTAN VANAR 

PETALING JAYA: The Federal Territories Ministry’s move to ban plastic straws in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan is gaining traction but restaurateurs want authorities to take a friendlier approach.

Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) president T. Muthusamy pointed out the public also shared the responsibility of doing away with plastic straws and local authorities should not be harsh towards restaurant operators.

He suggested for the ministry to have more awareness campaigns on the need for the ban through the media.

On a positive note, Muthusamy said there has been a change in a trend among customers frequenting Indian restaurant operators, particularly in the Bangsar area in Kuala Lumpur.

“Most of the customers bring their own metal straws.

“This is a good sign as it is reminiscent of a time when customers used to bring their own tiffin carriers when ordering food to take-away,” he said.

Malaysia Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors’ General Association president Datuk Ho Su Mong said most coffeeshop operators have stopped providing plastic straws.

“It is a good move and we have began encouraging our customers not to use plastic straws since Jan 1,” he said.

He added that only biodegradable straws costing 15sen each are offered to young children if their parents insist on them having straws.

“There are some parents who refuse to pay for the biodegradable straws by saying the customer is always right.

“In this circumstances, some coffeeshop operators have no choice but to offer plastic straws to avoid getting into in a heated argument with them,” he said.

Although the nationwide ban on plastic straws will be fully enforced in 2020, Ho noted that coffeeshop operators in southern Johor will voluntarily stop offering plastic straws in July.