Plastic straw – File photo
KUCHING (Oct 19): Food and beverage (F&B) operators in areas under the jurisdiction of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) could risk having their licences revoked if found to still be using plastic straws after the ban takes effect next year.
Such action would contravene the ‘No Plastic Straw’ policy, set to be in force beginning Jan 1 next year, said Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
“This policy could only be successful if all parties and stakeholders were to work together.
“That’s why my slogan is ‘Your City, My City and Our City,” he said during a dialogue held at MBKS Auditorium yesterday, meant to engage all local F&B operators and explained to them the process and implementation of the ‘No Plastic Straw’ policy.
Wee said the policy reflected the ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ status accorded to Kuching by Unesco.
Adding on, he also said gone were the days when the duties of a council were solely about city maintenance, as now the local authority could also draft new policies, including those focusing on environmental sustainability.
“The next thing that we are going into is food waste management. For example, we are going to look into your grease traps. We are not trying to make things difficult during these bad times; rather, we are trying to work with everybody.”
The mayor pointed out that the ‘No Plastic Straw’ campaign kicked off a year ago and for now, only warnings had been issued to operators found to still be using plastic straws.
“I assure all of you that the MBKS would always run community engagement activities to obtain feedback from the public regarding the implementation of various policies and regulations,” said Wee, adding that the MBKS would collaborate with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in holding more talks for school students and members of the public a sa way to raise awareness of environmental sustainability.