The indiscriminate disposal of plastics into our oceans has led to the tragic deaths of countless aquatic animals.

The proposal by YB Jamaliah Jamaluddin to reinforce Selangor’s commitment against single-use plastics is both timely and commendable.

In an era where environmental degradation threatens not only ecosystems but also public health and economic resilience, such principled leadership warrants our full support.

However, if Malaysia is truly committed to addressing the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated daily, the government must establish a permanent, minister-led task force to actively engage all stakeholders, including industry, civil society and schoolchildren, in adopting a more decisive and systemic approach. Incremental measures are no longer sufficient to meet the scale and urgency of the challenge.

The trend is forward, not backtracking

Moving forward, the Madani Government has to realise that, across the West, nations are beginning to move away from waste incineration and instead prioritise waste separation at source: a model that promotes recycling, reduces emissions and fosters civic responsibility.

Closer to home, more advanced countries such as South Korea have implemented one of the world’s most rigorous waste separation systems, which is worth emulating. It features:

  • Mandatory household sorting of food waste, recyclables and general waste
  • Volume-based waste fees, where residents pay according to the amount of non-recyclable waste they produce
  • Smart bins and RFID tracking for food waste, encouraging reduction and composting
  • Limited reliance on incineration, with increasing investment in recycling infrastructure and circular economy models

A more comprehensive approach is needed

Although Selangor was the first state to introduce a 20 sen surcharge for plastic bags, this measure has not significantly curbed the overall volume of plastic waste, particularly from single-use packaging, household disposables and unmanaged litter.

The surge in online shopping has further intensified the problem, with plastic packaging usage rising sharply across the country. Virtually every parcel and food delivery arrives encased in plastic, compounding the volume of waste generated daily. This trend is deeply concerning for a developing nation, given the scale at which plastics are being consumed and discarded.

Addressing this overdependence on plastics, especially in urban centres such as the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor, where waste infrastructure struggles to keep pace with consumption, will require considerable political will from the newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

The starting point must be a candid acknowledgement of the scale of the problem, followed by widespread education on the adoption of environmentally friendly alternatives for packaging.

For industry players, the shift to sustainable materials is often contingent on cost. This is where the federal government can play a pivotal role, by introducing targeted incentives to encourage the transition towards greener practices.

What Malaysia urgently needs

What is urgently needed now in Malaysia is a comprehensive, enforceable and transparent framework that prioritises sustainability over convenience.

This article was produced by Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA) as part of its work to educate the public and policymakers on protecting the environment. The writer is the Vice-President of PEKA. Read more about Dr Kartini’s environmental advocacy.