Stop buying drinking water in plastic bottle – DCM

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong has advised the people to stop buying drinking water in plastic bottle.

This is one of the many ways to reduce the demand of single use plastic, he said.

“If the message is clear from the consumers that they are not happy with the plastic packaging, I think the manufacturers will automatically think of a more sustainable packaging to ensure they have a business.

“Of course we cannot change how people act and think, but we must start somewhere if we really want to make an impact,” said Jaujan who is also the Local Government and Housing Minister.

He said his ministry had organised a number of “Say No To Plastic, Straw and Polystyrene” campaigns this year to show the government’s effort to overcome and reduce waste going into the landfill.

Speaking to reporters after handing over a certificate to Tuaran Hospital as the first waste-free facility in Sabah under the local authority, he said the hospital’s effort should be followed by other government departments in Sabah to ensure they would lead a good example to the people.

The event was also held in conjunction with the Merdeka Day celebration.

Meanwhile, Tuaran Hospital director Dr G Mohan Gopal Naidoo said the zero waste-free effort at the hospital started last year and was fully implemented earlier this year.

“With the implementation of waste-free efforts, our staff think it is very conducive for them working in a place where cleanliness is their priority.

“Our customers, who are the patients are also happy with the initiative,” he said, adding that the certification of waste-free facility hopefully would help the hospital to be recognised at a higher level.