Ministry preparing list to phase out problematic single-use plastics, says Nik Nazmi

KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry is in the process of identifying and compiling a preliminary list of problematic, unnecessary, and avoidable single-use plastics to ensure their systematic and ongoing elimination.

Its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that this list would facilitate the targeted elimination (phasing out) and reduction (phasing down) of single-use plastics, allowing for more effective implementation.

He was responding to a question from Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) during the Dewan Rakyat’s oral question and answer session, regarding the progress of the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030 (MPSR).

Nik Nazmi acknowledged that the implementation of the MPSR has experienced some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased plastic use.

“For example, the pandemic resulted in heightened plastic use as consumers turned more towards online food delivery and shopping, leading to excessive plastic packaging use,” he said.

He additionally noted that efforts to eliminate single-use plastics are hindered by the fragmented jurisdictions between federal, state, and local authorities.

Nik Nazmi pointed out that the pollution charge for single-use plastic bags is enforced only in Penang, Selangor, the Federal Territories, Perak, Kedah, Johor, and Perlis, indicating that many states and sectors have yet to fully adopt the plastic-free agenda. – Bernama