Big pollutants: Workers cleaning a river bank littered with trash, most of which is plastic.
KOTA KINABALU: A concerted effort is needed to strengthen and improve laws as well as policies to deal with the issue of plastic pollution in Sabah, says Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
The Deputy Chief Minister II said there is growing concern over the increase in plastic pollution, which has a serious impact on the state.
“Sabah is not exempt from facing the same problem of plastic pollution, which remains a challenge internationally.
“Many areas that used to be clean are now polluted with waste. In the sea, plastic floats and covers coral reefs, while our beaches and islands are littered with plastic.
“This not only pollutes the environment but also has a negative impact on Sabah’s image as a world-class tourism destination.
“The solution to the issue of plastic pollution requires cooperation from all parties, including the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector and other stakeholders,” said Dr Joachim, who is state Local Government and Housing Minister at the No Plastic in Nature Symposium here yesterday.
He said plastic pollution threatens the environment and has a profound impact on every aspect of life, including ecosystem health and community well-being.
As such, he said the community should not take the issue lightly and must understand their collective responsibility in dealing with it.
Only through joint efforts could Sabah, which is rich in natural resources, realise the goal of becoming a plastic pollution-free state, he added.
The symposium was organised in collaboration with the state Local Government and Housing Ministry and WWF-Malaysia, and supported by the Sabah CSO-SDG Alliance.
Dr Joachim hoped the symposium will be a platform for stakeholders to share information, views and initiatives related to plastic management.
“I hope through the cooperation of all parties, we can develop a more sustainable intervention strategy that focuses on the management and reduction of plastic waste, and the prevention of plastic leakage into the environment,” he added.
