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COMMENT | I find it amusing that some people are more bothered with the surcharge of 20 sen that traders impose on them for plastic bags, and I think that they are simply missing the point.

To impose a total plastic ban would be too drastic and I believe most Malaysians are not prepared for this change.

When you have people who just like to point fingers at the person who introduced the new ruling, rather than to understand the rationale behind the policy, it is sheer Third World mentality.

We are living in the 21st century but we still retain the kampung or New Village mentality. Some of us may have exposure in the West, but our mindset belongs to the prehistoric age.

We ahould be ashamed of ourselves for talking about becoming a developed nation in just three years from now when we cannot even manage our solid wastes, and instead of caring for the environment, we gripe over the additional 20 sen surcharge for plastic bags.

Are we ready for a total ban?

Upon reading my article yesterday on plastics and polystyrene, a former school mate of mine, Michael Raj, wrote: “Recently, I went to Bangalore. They have banned the use of plastic there.

“You cannot even get plastic straws or plastic trash bags. You must bring your own bags to carry your stuff. I could not even buy them off the counter for use. I mean, this is India! It is hardly a country known for cleanliness and they have started changing.”

I like his observation as Michael continued with his remarks: “Compliance is high in a society of millions who are not known for enforcement.”

If the Indians can have Zero Plastics in Bangalore, there is no reason why Malaysia cannot have a total ban on plastics and polystyrene. But, are we ready for it?

I challenge the present Housing and Local Government Minister, Noh Omar, to implement this unpopular policy and stop all talk about the incineration projects.

I believe by the next general election, if Barisan Nasional continues to helm Putrajaya, we will not only see incinerators worth billions of ringgit being built but nuclear reactors, too. There have been discussions about these two projects for some time.

Forget the 20 sen

If we really care for the environment, and the future generation of Malaysians, we should forget about the 20 sen charges imposed by traders.

We should boycott both plastics and polystyrene packaging materials altogether. Traders who know how damaging these materials are to the environment should therefore switch to more environmentally-friendly packaging materials.

Food containers should be used as they are more hygienic and healthier than using plastics to pack hot food or soup. According to my neighbour, Jenny Ngiam, restaurants in Amritsar, Punjab are serving their food in bowls made from leaves.

Ngiam’s standard practice is to bring recyclable bags or trolley bags whenever she goes shopping. That solves her 20 sen issue. The objective is to reduce the use of plastics.

“This is why I simply do not understand why our road cleaning contractors are using hundreds of plastic bags every day to keep the foliage, when they can emulate the way how other countries use carts to transfer the foliage to the collection point,” she told me.

Often, when I am asked by the cashier whether I need plastic bags for my groceries, I immediately answer: “No plastics, please. Save the environment.” I did not even have to bother about the 20 sen charges.

I am hoping that someday we will reach the level of consciousness that the people in the city of Bangalore have achieved. Malaysia may have to go through several stages before it arrives at such a policy.

The Selangor state government implemented the ‘No Plastic Bags’ ruling once a week. Thailand has, in fact, just started the policy recently; so they are lagging behind us.

From once a week, now we are discouraging the use of plastics and polystyrene boxes. Even if there are no by-laws, can we have at least some conscience for the environment by turning down any offer to use plastic bags?

It is only those who find their habits hard to break who are complaining about the 20 sen for plastic bags. If they are unhappy at forking out 20 sen, I strongly recommend that they should bring recyclable bags along the next time they visit the grocery shop...

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