M’sia to implement tighter checks on plastic waste

MORE stringent checks will be carried out on containers at all Malaysian ports to ensure that no prohibited plastic waste enters the country.

Malaysia’s customs directorgeneral Datuk Paddy Abdul Halim said they were working with the National Solid Waste Management Department and the Department of Environment to combat the smuggling of plastic waste into the country.

“We are carrying out tighter checks on containers entering into the country, especially at Port Klang.

“The Customs has joined a special team formed by the government, which views seriously the dumping of banned plastic waste in the country, to combat the illegal activities,” he told Bernama.

She said 10 out of the 60 containers weighing 450 metric tonnes was plastic waste from various countries like China, US, Australia, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the UK.

Malaysia is among the countries that import recyclable plastic waste and so far, 62 companies have been issued approved permits by the National Solid Waste Management Department to bring in and process plastic scraps in the country.

However, strict conditions are imposed on those importing and processing plastic waste, among them, importers should have storage premises and facilities to carr y out processing and recycling of the imported plastic waste.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed having received a report on the alleged illegal operation of a plastic waste recycling plant at Jenjarom in Kuala Langat.

MACC Investigation Division director Datuk Seri Simi Abd Gani said the report was received last year.

“T he pl a nt w h ic h w a s reportedly operating illega lly was not involved in corruption following investigations,” he told Bernama, adding that such compla i nt s of i l lega l operations should be submitted to t he loca l aut hor it ies and related parties.

He added, so far this year, the MACC has not received any new report on the issue.

On June 3, it was reported that 10 out of 41 illegal factories processing plastic waste in Klang had been closed. The remaining will be closed, latest by this July.

Selangor MACC director Datuk Alias Salim said a man was arrested for allegedly receiving bribes over the opening of a plastic waste recycling plant last year and MACC was still investigating the case. However, the man has been released.

Alias added MACC did not receive any reports on abuse of power and corruption pertaining to containers carrying plastic waste at Port Klang.