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More transparency, stringency needed to preserve human rights and environment from plastic waste imports, says C4 report

  • Publication Date | March 17, 2021
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Pollution & Extractives
  • Issues | Pollution, Waste
  • Tags | Basel Convention, Climate Crisis, GAIA, plastics, recycling
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The following statement released by Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) is supported by SAM. The C4 report was launched on 16 March 2021 at a webinar co organised by SAM

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) launched its report on plastic waste yesterday with a webinar featuring a panel of experts, with the report and panel concluding that there needs to be more transparent and stringent laws governing waste and recycling to preserve human rights, health and the environment from local and transboundary plastic waste.

The report, titled “Malaysia is not a “Garbage Dump”: Citizens against, corruption, complacency, crime, and climate crisis”, delves into the illegality surrounding plastic recycling in Malaysia, how it occurred, and the implications on the peoples’ right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

A policy brief was developed from selected findings of the full report focusing on good governance in the global plastic waste trade, which was the theme of the webinar.  Some of the recommendations from the policy brief were discussed by the panellists during the webinar, such as prioritising local plastic waste management over export (for exporting countries), full compliance to the Basel Convention and enhancing participatory multi-stakeholder engagements to tackle the illegal waste trade. The complete list of recommendations in the policy brief is available for download. 

The webinar was co-organised with Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), and was moderated by Kiu Jia Yaw, co-deputy chairperson of the environment and climate change committee of the Malaysian Bar. It featured both local and international speakers, with former MESTECC minister Yeo Bee Yin, SAM honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam, and Greenpeace Malaysia campaigner Heng Kiah Chun sharing Malaysia’s experience as a destination for imported plastic waste.

Yeo shared her experience as MESTECC minister in addressing the impacts and challenges of Malaysia as a country that imports plastic waste, and her recommendations to the global community on the problems of transboundary plastic waste. Mageswari spoke about the importance of working with international partners to find solutions, and Heng shared his experience with tracking plastic waste shipments.

“We should check if there are international syndicates that are profiting from the subsidies of developed governments, but are instead dumping the waste in developing countries,” said Yeo.

Sirine Rached, global policy advocate for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Jane Bremmer, campaign coordinator for National Toxics Network Australia, and James Sweeney, head of sector illicit trade, health & environment operations and investigations for the European Anti-Fraud Office, represented interested international bodies. They spoke about the Basel Convention and its loopholes, the impact of the export of refuse-derived fuels from Australia, and the importance of coordination and intelligence-sharing, respectively.

“One of our aims here was to link the climate crisis, environmental governance with the entire area of anti-corruption, of accountable governance, and access to information,” said C4 Center executive director Cynthia Gabriel.

“The webinar enabled the participants to better understand the legal and illegal transboundary trade in plastic waste, and the loopholes in regulating the supply chains. The panellists recommended solutions such as source reduction, full disclosure, traceability and transparency of plastic waste shipments, and called on developed countries to ban the export of plastic waste to prevent dumping, of which we will continue to advocate,” said SAM honorary secretary Mageswari.

The webinar garnered interest locally and internationally with over 1,700 viewers, with participants posting over 30 questions to the panellists. Further events will be held to disseminate other findings from the report. 

The following can be downloaded at their respective links.

Policy Brief

Webinar Video

Report and Appendix

Released by:
Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4 Center)
For further enquiries, please contact 012-379 2189 / 03-7660 5140

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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