Studies have shown that the weight of the rubbish in the oceans will be greater than the weight of the fish towards 2050. Polluted plastic waste drifted to the sea will negatively impact the marine lives and disturb nature’s ecosystem.

According to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Azmi Nik Ahmad, his ministry is studying the mechanism for preventing the earth from being inundated with the problem of plastic waste dumping.

“We are considering whether to create a policy. We already know our direction, which is ‘zero single use plastic, and we also have the ‘sustainable plastic road map.’

“So, we want to see if we can create a legislation at the national level to help reduce plastic waste, or towards zero single use plastics,” said Nik Azmi who was present at the Environmental Sustainability Tour Programme at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

His ministry also took note that several contractors do not adhere to the standard guidelines for managing waste disposal.

The programme was part of the effort to involve the youths in managing issues relating to environmental sustainability. It was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability in collaboration with the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation. UMT was the first venue for the tour programme.

During the event, Nik Azmi also launched the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Malaysia, which is an NGO that seeks to educate the public in an effort to achieve the aim of rubbish-free oceans.

Nik Azmi also visited the site where a group of students were participating in a beach cleanup programme held in conjunction with the World Oceans Day that is celebrated on 8 June every year.

In conjunction with the tour programme, a forum featuring the minister as one of the panel members was also held to provide a more detailed explanation to the youths regarding current issues related to environmental sustainability, especially those involving climate change and plastic pollution, the government’s latest policies, and future employment opportunities.

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Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu