Go directly to root of pollution problem – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun wants local government such as the City Hall to go directly to the root of the problem to resolve plastic pollution at rivers and seas in Sabah.

Speaking at the Blu Hope Commonwealth Observance Day “Sabah Plastic Neutral” event, which was held online yesterday, Masidi said that one of the reasons why rivers are polluted in Sabah is because people build houses on river riparian reserves.

He explained that since it is illegal to construct dwellings at riparian reserves, facilities such as rubbish collection are not rendered or offered there.

“And where do the people throw their garbage? The river acts as their mobile moving bin,” said Masidi.

In order to solve the river pollution issue, he said the people residing on riparian reserves must be made to leave.

He also said that dwellings on riparian reserves are considered squatters.

“Unfortunately, when they set up squatters there, the flags of political parties are also hoisted up.”

He added that allowing the squatters to continue living on riparian reserves will mean never seeing an end to the river pollution problem.

“Twenty years on, we will still be talking about this same issue,” he warned.

“We need to change what we do. Don't worry about the politicians. Do what is right,” he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Associate Professor Dr Jidon Janaun who is the deputy director for Research and Innovation Management Centre, said that the university has already selected Mabul Island as its pilot project in plastic waste management.

He said that the project they are undertaking on the island now is to convert plastic into diesel (fuel) which can be used to fuel generators and boat engines.

“We opted for the two choices as these are the two devices used on the island … the project is geared at turning plastic waste into something of value to the local island community,” he said.

Dr Jidon said four types of plastics can be used to be turned to fuel and they are HDPE, LDPE, PP and PS.

“We hope to be able to tackle the plastic waste on the island. We also hope that by doing this, the load of plastic waste going to the mainland can be reduced,” he said.

In the project, one kilogram of plastic undergoes three to four hours of processing before it can be turned into one litre of diesel fuel.

He added that the project benefits the locals and they hope that it will promote a better environment on the island and its surrounding.