KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability is identifying and compiling a preliminary list of problematic, unnecessary, and avoidable single-use plastics to ensure their systematic and ongoing elimination.

Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the list would allow the targeted elimination (phasing out) and reduction (phasing down) of single-use plastics to be implemented more effectively.

He was responding to a question from Wong Shu Qi (Pakatan Harapan-Kluang) during an oral question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, who inquired about the progress of the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030 (MPSR).

Nik Nazmi acknowledged that the MPSR’s implementation had been slightly delayed following the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in plastic use.

“For instance, the pandemic resulted in an increased use of plastics, as consumers leaned more towards online food delivery and shopping, which in turn led to an excessive use of plastic packaging,” he said.

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

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

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