PUTRAJAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has permanently stopped the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for plastic waste effective today.
Its minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin said the decision was made after a meeting between the ministry and the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry; Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry ; and International Trade and Industry Ministry today.
“This move was towards strengthening and empowering the dependence on the local plastic industry.
“The plastic industry is able to bring a big profit to a country’s economy with some RM30 billion a year in Malaysia and approximately RM600 billion a year worldwide,” she said during a press conference today.
It was previously reported that the non-governmental organisations (NGO) and academicians in the country had urged the government to impose a permanent ban on the import of plastic waste to be recycled in the country.
This is to avoid any adverse effect on public health and the environment.
She added that it was also agreed at the meeting to review the criteria for the import of high quality plastics such plastic industrial, homogeneous plastic and clean plastic to the country.
“The review will also take into consideration the role of local plastic industry towards strengthening it and increase dependency on the industry,” she added.
Meanwhile, she said the ministry was also working towards wiping out illegal factories which process plastics through a ‘cleaning’ operation nationwide.