20 October 2018

Press statement by MCA Youth Vice Chairman Nicole Wong

Public opinion must be consulted on pollution charges

Before our government goes around implementing pollution charges on retailers, chain stores and restaurants, public opinions should be taken into consideration to supplement the internal consultation of government agencies.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister Yeo Bee Yin announced earlier that the federal and state governments have all agree to participate in the Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030, and in the first stage, pollution charges will be introduced targeting businesses.

I applaud the government for trying to increase the awareness of Malaysians towards single-use plastics to fuel the nation’s green effort. Nonetheless, this will definitely increase operation costs of businesses, and indirectly inflating the cost of living.

The new government has always insisted that it is always for the people. It is contradictory to have the pollution charge passed down to the public in the end, making the people the sacrificial lambs of reforms.

If businesses, and especially the eateries, are to new fees imposed upon them, it is clear-cut that these enterprises shall pass the pollution charge down to consumers. It is true that if the education level is raised, more people will have a higher income, nonetheless, the B40 and M40 groups still form the majority, and though these fees are in the name of the green effort, it cannot be denied that they will be further burdened.  

Many have come to rely upon the cheap, durable, light-weight, and water-resisting plastic products. Some also do not comprehend the extent of environmental damage plastics can cause, in addition to low awareness. These are all factors why is it hard to impress upon them the need to lower the usage of plastics.

I propose that the government should contemplate increasing environmental awareness alongside rapid economic development, by utilising  classroom time to instill consciousness to be green and educating them on the correlations between rapid population growth, resource shortages and environment pollution. Of course, the government can also refer to how other countries had done this while considering taking into regards the socioeconomics of Malaysia.

Additionally, MESTECC can organise a forum to help the new government better understand the people’s position and suggestions, directly involving them into the policy-making of environmental safeguarding.

Nicole Wong

MCA Youth Vice Chairman

-MCA Online-