GEORGE TOWN: A senior Penang lawmaker has expressed shock over news report that Canada is refusing to take back plastic waste from Malaysia.
After all, Canada has willingly taken back its plastic waste from the Philippines.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he had given due respect to the Canadian representatives by not inviting the media during a visit to show the condition of the containers and their content at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) on Tuesday.
“At the federal level, the Malaysian and Canadian ministers are dealing with the issue, but when they put out this kind of statement, they (Canadian government) are not showing any respect to Malaysia, especially Penang.
“We are prepared to meet with them, but to come up with such a statement is very irresponsible.
“I have every right as a representative of the people of Penang to express my unhappiness,” he said today.
Phee said it was morally wrong of Canada, a signatory of the Basel Convention, to deny responsibility.
“The Basel Convention signed recently is not imposed yet but when talking of legal and moral... morally, this is wrong.
“If you are not aware, it’s okay, but now you are made aware,” he said when responding to news reports that Ottawa does not plan to take back the plastic waste that came from the country.
In the Reuters report, Environment and Climate Change Canada spokesman Gabrielle Lamontagne was quoted as saying that “there are no plans for the Canadian government to pick up waste in Malaysia”.
Earlier today, the Penang Customs Department revealed that another 132 containers filled with plastic waste imported from foreign countries were found at the NBCT.
This brings the total number of such containers to 397.
Late last month, state Customs Department director Datuk Saidi Ismail had revealed that 265 containers filled with plastic waste had been stranded at the NBCT since January, incurring some RM5 million in port charges.
He said the plastic waste was imported by 11 companies under false codes and without Approved Permits (AP).
Saidi the majority came from Hong Kong (94), United States (68), Germany (28) and Canada (20).
Meanwhile, state Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh, who was also asked to comment on the matter, said he had instructed both the Penang Island City Council and the newly-upgraded Seberang Prai City Council to identify the movement of vehicles transporting such waste to ensure that they were sent to the correct place and not illegally dumped.
He said it was important for both councils to step up monitoring to know the vehicles’ whereabouts.
He added that he had requested both councils yesterday to submit comprehensive reports to him on the situation on the ground.
The reports will include information such as the number of illegal recycling factories in the state as well as those undergoing legalisation.
“In fact, we are looking at certain cases where I feel we might be taking court actions against those perpetrators.
“I think we must be firm. We must make an example of several cases so that it serves as a deterrent to future perpetrators,” he added.