MDC launches ‘Say No to Styrofoam’ campaign
Over time, the marine life will die and this will lead to a shortage of important source of food for us and many generations to come.
MARUDI: Marudi District Council ( MDC) recently launched its ‘Say No to Styrofoam’ campaign to reduce the use of Styrofoam.
Its chairman Cr Edward Mendai said Styrofoam, which is lightweight and floats, is also pervasive to the marine environment as it can be carried away from streets and through storm drains out to the ocean.
Fish will consume it and the hazardous waste will live on in their bodies as it is nonbiodegradable.
“Over time, the marine life will die and this will lead to a shortage of important source of food for us and many generations to come,” he said during the ‘ Majlis Bersama Komuniti Daerah Beluru 2018’ at Lapok, Tinjar near here.
He thus reminded the rural communities to stop the usage of products made from Styrofoam including disposable coffee cups and wrappers.
Cr Edward Mendai, Marudi District Council chairman
“Styrofoam contains the chemical styrene, which has been linked to cancer, vision and hearing loss, impaired memory and concentration, and nervous system…the list goes on,” warned Edward, while quoting an international research that stated that styrene can be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
The inaugural event organised by Marudi District Council in collaboration with various state and federal government agencies was declared open by Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who is Marudi assemblyman.
In his speech, Penguang emphasised the importance of managing domestic waste, especially garbage such as plastic, Styrofoam and metal. He also reminded councillors and community leaders in his constituency to perform their responsibilities to their very best ability.
In conjunction with the launching of the campaign, the organisers had also organised several competitions including the 3R ( reuse, reduce, recycle) challenge where primary and secondary school students got the chance to showcase their skills in making monuments, vehicles and robots, and a poster design contest.
Apart from that, Penguang presented specially designed aprons to several coffeeshop owners and representatives of the local communities to show support for the campaign.
SMK Tinjar and SK Long Lapok were presented with hundreds of books as part of the bulk loan book programme aimed at providing the schools with collections of books or reading materials for their libraries.
Booths set up by various government departments and agencies including National Anti- Drug Agency (AADK), Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba), Department of Agriculture, Health Department and Department of Labour were set up at the event site for visitors to obtain latest information and services.
Penguang also presented MRP grants of RM15,000 each to the village security and development committee (JKKK) of Rh Abok, Persatuan Berawan and JKKK of Rh Sidi, RM10,000 to Persatuan Penan/Petipun and RM20,000 to JKKK of Rh Larek Mat.