00:00I would like to ask the Minister of Energy Transformation and Water Transformation
00:05to state that microplastics are a new polluting material that poses a threat to water resources and supplies.
00:13How much effort has been made by the Ministry to address this issue among the Malaysian people?
00:20The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs takes seriously the issue of microplastics as a new polluting material in water resources and supplies.
00:29In an effort to address the issue of new polluting materials including microplastics,
00:34the Malaysian National Water Supply Institute or better known as NAHRIM,
00:40has conducted research on water quality.
00:44Based on NAHRIM's research, six rivers have collected average data of microplastic abundance in each selected river basin
00:52and the next to the sea is affected by anthropogenic activities such as industrial and domestic.
00:59At this time, there is still no official agreement on new microplastic polluting materials in water.
01:06For example, the water treatment process needs to be taken into account to ensure safe water quality.
01:13Information from NAHRIM's research is very important for the purpose of improving and strengthening the guidelines,
01:20policies and actas in government efforts to control plastic and microplastic pollution
01:26to ensure the safety and health of the water environment.
01:30However, more comprehensive research needs to be conducted to assess the impact of human health
01:36that is affected by microplastic pollution.
01:40Cooperation between stakeholders such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Transportation,
01:47Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Housing and Local Government,
01:51Ministry of State and Local Authorities is needed so that this issue can be handled more holistically.
01:59NAHRIM has also held the first National Microplastic Seminar from 15 to 16 July 2024.
02:05This seminar has collected more than 39 papers discussing microplastic issues.
02:12This seminar is not only focused on water sources and marine environments,
02:16but also impacts other organisms such as aquatic organisms, land and various other mediums.
02:24In an effort to expand research on the presence of new microplastic pollutants in water sources in Malaysia,
02:30NAHRIM will also take the following steps.
02:34First, use of new pollutants as a basic document to spread knowledge
02:40and awareness regarding microplastic pollution.
02:44Second, establish a special authority to discuss issues related to new pollutants in Malaysia.
02:50Third, improve the quality of Malaysian fresh water with the addition of new pollutant parameters.
02:59Fourth, cooperate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare
03:02to collect primary data on microplastic pollution and raw water sources in Malaysia.
03:08Fifth, develop a standard operating procedure with SOP
03:13for microplastic sampling and microplastic detection
03:17to be adopted as a Malaysian standard.
03:20Thank you.
03:29As I understand, there are five steps that have been taken.
03:34This is probably in line with what other countries are doing,
03:38such as Austria, which is also implementing the 2022-2025 microplastic action plan.
03:45I would like to refer to a study published by the American Chemical Society in April this year
03:52that states that Malaysia is one of the countries that recorded a high level of microplastic sampling
03:58exceeding 50% through the practice of high seawater source food.
04:03We are indeed a country that eats high seawater sources.
04:06In addition, one of the main reasons for placing the Malaysian population
04:10as a country that is threatened with microplastic pollution
04:13is through materials from the industry sector, such as textiles, tires and cosmetics.
04:21In fact, what is included in the government's plan
04:24to enforce guidelines or laws as an initial solution
04:33other than other preventive measures?
04:36Thank you.
04:39Indeed, we take seriously the report from the world science community
04:46which states that Malaysia is a country that is threatened with microplastic.
04:51There are current studies and there are also old studies.
04:55But what is more important is for us to conduct studies in our own country
04:59involving various ministries, agencies and also the state
05:04for us to study whether the current population
05:08in terms of microplastic that is exposed to water or in the air
05:15and to what extent does it cause physical harm to human health.
05:20That is what we will do.
05:22Secondly, in terms of the base, if we look at the existing base
05:27exceeding 20-25, we say that there is no more use of plastic bags.
05:34That is the target in Malaysia.
05:38And at the same time, I think what we want to do
05:43is to use biodegradable plastics
05:48which means that it can be disposed of compared to non-natural plastics
05:53which also pose a threat to humans and the environment.
05:58Secondly, we want to use microbeads
06:12to wash our faces, body scrubs and so on.
06:15That should also be reduced.
06:18And this awareness should be given to all health practitioners
06:22to reduce the use of these plastics.
06:25Likewise, the waste machines that we use now
06:30we want to encourage people to use waste machines
06:34that are not from above but from the side.
06:39And the speed and time to wash should also be reduced
06:44so that it does not result in results that can cause
06:49the release of unhealthy substances into the water.
06:54Likewise, by reducing the use of textile materials
06:59that use plastic or microfiber.
07:04We will take all these steps
07:08including not to use synthetic materials such as nylon
07:13and to avoid the use of heavy disposable containers
07:17and what else?
07:19Including if possible, we should use more public transportation
07:23because the tires used actually produce side effects
07:29which eventually when it rains will flow into the water
07:32and the effects of the tires themselves actually explode.
07:36That is also a type of microplastic that is released in the north
07:40and can be consumed by us
07:42or consumed because the water does not dissolve
07:45when the water is processed.
07:48Thank you.
07:49Rompin.
07:50Thank you Madam Speaker.
07:52I would like to proceed to the question from the Minister.
07:55Has the Ministry, together with the Institute for the Preservation
07:59of the Water of the Malaysian Nation, NAHRIM
08:02studied the need to develop special laws
08:06to deal with the issue of waste and plastic pollution
08:10alongside the effort to reduce the use of plastic once used
08:14without biodegradation
08:16in a bid to promote alternative and sustainable materials
08:20in the release of plastic as planned
08:23by the Malaysia 2021-2030 Plastic Recycling Agreement.
08:29Do you consider the approach taken by neighboring countries
08:33so that the issue of plastic pollution can be dealt with
08:37together in ASEAN?
08:39My second question is,
08:40how far has the study been carried out and cooperated with the Institute
08:44for the Preservation of the Water of the Malaysian Nation
08:46regarding the effects of microplastics
08:48on human health as a result of the release of microplastics?
08:51Thank you.
08:53Thank you.
08:54Part of it, as I have answered earlier,
08:57is for the government to target by 2025
09:01to no longer use plastic bags.
09:04That is one approach.
09:06But more importantly, it is to provide awareness
09:08in terms of good practices and so on.
09:10If we have a foundation,
09:12there is a law,
09:13but it is not adopted by the people,
09:15then it will not have an effect.
09:17Therefore, I think the advocacy program
09:20to provide awareness
09:22is the best practice
09:25for every individual
09:27so that they will not use plastic.
09:30Practicing good practices
09:32will not release plastics
09:34into the river or air, etc.
09:37Including the industry and all stakeholders.
09:40In terms of the law,
09:42as I have said earlier,
09:44it involves various ministries.
09:46Therefore, I think the next step
09:49is to involve all ministries
09:51to see what new pollutants
09:54exist in our country,
09:56including microplastics,
09:58and how they affect
10:00the health of humans
10:02and the health of the environment.
10:04This is what we will do.
10:06Last week and this week,
10:08there was already a seminar
10:10conducted by NARIM.
10:12But how do we involve
10:14all ministries?
10:16Because if we see,
10:18in our country,
10:21there are regulations
10:23including the PBT, etc.
10:25In this area of power,
10:27we need to consult
10:29through the Ministry of Power
10:31to take joint action
10:33on how to handle
10:35and identify
10:37what new pollutants are,
10:39how to monitor,
10:41what actions to take
10:43so that we can take joint action
10:45in terms of strengthening power
10:47and prevention steps.
10:50We need a new SOP
10:52so that whatever standards
10:54we have now,
10:56we may not be able
10:58to protect or cover
11:00the new pollutants
11:02that are polluting
11:04our environment.
11:06So we need to do better.
11:08And this will be carried out
11:10jointly under the power
11:12that we will create later.
11:14Thank you.
11:19Thank you.
11:21Thank you.
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