Malaysia: Ban on plastic straws in KL, Putrajaya and Labuan from Jan 1, 2019

vijenthi nair The Star 20 Sep 18;

PUTRAJAYA: Plastic straws will be banned in all the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan from Jan 1 next year.

Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Adnan Mohd Ikhsan said businesses which are still found to be using plastic straws in 2019 risk having their business licences terminated.

"Business owners may also be fined, lose their deposits, have their trading items confiscated or even be imprisoned.

"The ban on plastic straws is in addition to the ban on plastics bags and polystyrene food packaging, which started in September last year (2017).

"The requirements are clearly stated in their business licences, so there is no excuse for the business owners to claim ignorance.

"Local authorities will not hesitate to take action according to its by-laws," he said.

Adnan said he hoped all business owners would cooperate and strictly adhere to requirements for the greater good of the environment.



Johor set to ban plastic straws
The Star 23 Sep 18;

JOHOR BARU: Johor is likely to follow the Federal Territories in banning plastic straws from January, says Jimmy Puah Wee Tse.

The exco member, who is the state International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairman, said he would bring up the issue at the coming exco meeting.

“We have to move with the times to take care of our planet, and Johor should not be left behind in the efforts to reduce plastic waste.

“There are already alternatives to plastic straws in the market and the change is possible given the right push from the state government,” Puah told pressmen after attending the Walk For Hope 2018 programme organised by Senibong Cove developer, Front Concept Sdn Bhd, here yesterday.


Better alternatives to plastic straws needed
Esther Landau and Ahmad Suheal Adnan New Straits Times 22 Sep 18;

KUALA LUMPUR: Industries are being urged to find better alternatives for plastic straws, which will be banned in the Federal Territories from Jan 1, 2020.

“Industries should be more creative in finding ways to replace plastic straws. They have more than one year to achieve this,” Federal Territories Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Adnan Md Ikshan said at the Gotong-Royong Mega 2018 programme held in conjunction with World Cleanup Day at the Seri Semarak People’s Housing Project, here, today.

Even though some quarters were unhappy about the ban, he said it was needed to protect the environment.

He said an awareness campaign would be carried out beginning on Jan 1 next year.

Fourteen cities in countries like Canada, Greece, Guatemala, India, Scotland, Switzerland and the United States have already banned or are expected to ban the use of disposable plastic products like straws.

On another issue, Adnan said City Hall had imposed compounds on 200 premises that were still not using biodegradable plastic bags.

He said some supermarkets were dishonest and only used biodegradable bags when the City Hall was carrying out inspections. He warned that stern action would taken.