MP SPEAKS | I welcome Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s announcement that recycling facilities will become a licensing requirement for shopping malls.
The initiative will be implemented in four phases beginning this month, with full enforcement targeted by 2028. The ministry will also work with local authorities to introduce the necessary conditions and guidelines to ensure orderly implementation and compliance.
In reviewing the Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities 2025 previously, I also came across another document, namely the Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Commercial Development 2025, which contains a provision on waste management in shopping malls that warrants further discussion.
According to the guidelines, shopping malls are required to provide dedicated waste collection areas that meet several conditions. One of these requirements specifies the segregation of waste into the following categories:
1. Halal organic waste
2. Non-halal organic waste
3. Recyclable solid waste (paper, cardboard, glass, and plastic)
4. Others
This raises several practical questions.
How exactly are “halal organic waste” and “non-halal organic waste” defined? Is the distinction based on the origin of ingredients, food preparation processes, or the nature of the discarded waste itself?
Furthermore, if shopping malls are required to introduce additional bins, storage facilities, and handling procedures, this will inevitably involve additional operational costs.
Has the Selangor state government conducted sufficient engagement with mall operators, food and beverage industry associations, local authorities, and waste management companies? Has any cost-benefit assessment been carried out?
To be clear, I am not questioning the importance of waste segregation, nor am I seeking to frame the issue through a religious lens. My concern is whether the policy objectives, implementation framework, and supporting mechanisms have been properly explained.
If this requirement is intended to improve recycling outcomes and enhance waste management efficiency, the state government should clearly communicate the rationale behind the policy as well as its expected benefits.
Conversely, if key definitions, operational procedures, and downstream waste processing systems remain unclear, then the policy should be reviewed and refined to avoid unnecessary burdens on businesses and confusion during implementation.
Given that the Selangor State Urban Planning Guidelines 2025 (Garis Panduan dan Piawaian Perancangan Bandar Negeri Selangor 2025) consists of six separate volumes, and concerns have already emerged from at least two of them, I once again urge the state government to withdraw the entire set of guidelines for a comprehensive review.
As of today, elected representatives in the state legislative assembly have yet to receive copies of all six volumes.
I therefore reiterate my call for the state government to engage MPs, state assemblypersons, and local councillors in an open consultation process to ensure any revisions are handled transparently and professionally. - Mkini
LEE CHEAN CHUNG is the Petaling Jaya MP.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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