CAMPAIGN FOR BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS TO PROMOTIE GREEN TECHNOLOGY

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8(Bernama) -- A campaign to ban the use of plastic bags will
be carried out to conserve the environment and promote green technology, Water,
Green Technology and Power Minister Peter Chin Fa Kui said Thursday.

For a start, the campaign would be implemented at the ministry level before
being expanded to shopping centres and eventually nationwide.

"All of us should start banning the use of the plastic bags, for example,
by canteen operators in the ministry's premises.

"We need to make it a daily practice not to pack food in containers which
are not environment-friendly," he said after launching the Intensive Guide Book
On Renewable Energy Incentives and Energy Efficiency in Malaysia here.

He said the proposal on the campaign was under discussion with the relevant
ministries such as the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Domestic
Trade, Cooperative and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Chin also said that an international conference and exhibition on green
technology would be held here in October next year with participation from
government agencies, private sector and industry players to promote Malaysia as
being among the countries which give attention to green technology.

He said the guide book was to provide information on fiscal incentives by
the government for the generation of renewable energy and promotion of energy
efficiency and was a reference for utility companies and commercial users of
electricity.

Copies of the book can be obtained from the ministry, the Malaysian
Industrial Development Authority, Energy Commission and Malaysia Energy Centre
while the electronic version can be downloaded from the ministry's website.
-- BERNAMA