THE Penang government has urged the Federal Government to look into the issue of plastic waste being imported into the country.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the issue had tarnished the state’s image as a clean and green state.
“There are dozens of containers filled with plastic waste which are imported from various countries stranded at our port. They are waiting to be cleared.
“Some may see it as a business opportunity but it is not managed well.
“We see these waste being dumped indiscriminately in our neighbourhood, impacting our environment and tarnishing our image.
“We hope that the Federal Government will take this issue seriously and not to allow waste from foreign countries to be imported into Malaysia,” Chow said in his speech before launching the food waste-to-energy biogas pilot plant at the solid waste transfer station in Batu Maung today.
Chow said Malaysia faced such a problem today following China’s plastic waste imports ban.
“If no decision is made at the national level, such occurence will continue to pollute our environment.
“The Penang government wants the Federal Government to address the matter urgently,” he said.
Chow added: “Don’t deposit your waste and problem in our country and state. Handle your own problem and let us do our best to make our state clean and green.”
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud