KUALA LUMPUR: The government is reviewing a proposal to fully ban the use of asbestos, a material still widely used in the country despite its harmful effects on human health, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
"We will assess how this issue is currently managed under existing legislation and policies. If there are gaps, we may need to improve them," the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said after the launch of his book, "Saving the Planet: Climate and Environmental Lessons from Malaysia and Beyond" here on Saturday (Jan 11).
Nik Nazmi said the Environment Department is currently studying the use of industrial asbestos and its impact on the environment and health.
In July 2024, the Penang Consumers Association (CAP) submitted a memorandum to the government urging a complete ban on all forms of asbestos, repeating a similar call it made in a memorandum submitted in May 2001.
Asbestos is a toxic substance that can cause lung cancer and its use has been banned in 69 countries including Finland, Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan and Thailand as of October 2022, according to the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat.
In 2006, the International Labour Organisation recommended that all countries ban asbestos. – Bernama
