Politik, Legislatif, Dasar dan Tadbir Urus

Penang is positioning itself as a “green state” by extending its “no plastic bag day” to all retail stores for Mondays beginning next Jan 1 while other businesses which had done so will now implement it three days a week. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said those doing it for three days are hypermarkets, supermarkets, professional outlets/firms and franchise stores. "This move is in line with the state’s efforts to reshape Penang as the first 'green' state in Malaysia," he said in a statement today. Lim (picture) launched the “No Plastic Mondays” initiative in July 2009 and data provided by 45 supermarkets and hypermarkets indicate the public had reduced an estimated one million plastic bags in just four months. He disclosed that the state had also collected RM21,403 for the Partners Against Poverty Fund from the 20-sen levy imposed on consumers who insist on plastic bags on Monday. He said the programme has received tremendous support from the public, while other states...

In April 2007, a barge crossing from Penang Island to Seberang Perai on the Malaysian peninsular sank into depth of Selat Melaka. Tons upon tons of cargo-garbage from the heavily urbanized island floated to the surface of the sea, seriously polluting the surrounding waters. This incident spot lighted an issue that Penang Island and other densely populated metropolitan areas in Malaysia had dreaded to face but had not being able to wish away: exporting their garbage to somebody’s backyard. Throughout the lifecycle, garbage never stops taking a heavy financial and environmental toll on Malaysia. Garbage disposal drains about RM00 million out of Malaysia’s sheds, continue the onslaught by seeping, especially during the raining seasons, into streams and rivers to foul up drinking water and aquatic ecosystem. At the same time, methane and other greenhouse gases escape into the air adding more atmosphere warming. To counter this glomming picture, many Malaysian citizens from Penang to Kuala...