PETALING JAYA, Selangor, Sept 9 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) acknowledges the recent statement by YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, announcing a complete halt to plastic waste imports to prevent Malaysia from becoming a dumping ground.
MPMA fully supports the government’s intention to protect the environment. However, we urge the government to carefully weigh the economic and environmental implications of a blanket ban and above all, to distinguish between illegal dumping and responsible recycling. A total ban on plastic imports would unfairly punish licensed recyclers who operate under strict compliance and cripple a vital green industry, while the real culprits, the illegal operators, continue to tarnish Malaysia’s reputation.
