PRESS STATEMENT: 19 APRIL 2026 - POSTPONE THE ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL MACHINE
DIRECTIVE
I
refer to the circular issued to all restaurant owners and operators
in Penampang dated 22 January 2026 by Penampang Municipal Council,
which among others requires the installation of organic waste
disposal machine at their respective premises as a condition for the
renewal or issuance of new business licenses.
I
have received various feedbacks from kopitiam and restaurant
operators in the district who are deeply dissatisfied with the
implementation directive of this directive, which is seen as yet
another measure that will places additional financial burden on them.
I
am aware of the Uniform (Segregation and Disposal of Organic Waste)
By-Laws 2016 and have no objection to the by-laws themselves.
However, the key issue lies in the timing and method of
implementation through this circular, which clearly did not provide
any room for prior engagement with the affected business operators.
I
have also been informed that the procument of these machines can only
be made from a single supplier, namely Eco Greenpia Sdn. Bhd. This
raises serious concerns—has this company been granted exclusive
supplier status by the municipal? Were other local Sabah companies
given the opportunity to participate? This is crucial, as the by-laws
do not grant the authority to appoint a sole supplier.
The
enforcement of this directive at a time of economic uncertainty and
rising operational costs clearly demonstrates that the State
Government under GRS and its allies does not understand the real
challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), not only in
Penampang but across other districts as well.
As
a former officer of the Malaysia Investment Development Authority
(MIDA) and was involved in several federal's industrial policy
development at Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), I
have been trained to ensure that the welfare of industry players in
the country is safeguarded through various approaches, including
stakeholder engagement. This is so since local industry players form
the backbone of the domestic economy and are key contributors to
employment in Malaysia.
Therefore,
I am deeply disappointed to see industry players in Penampang,
including kopitiam and restaurant operators, being burdened with
rising operational costs such as increased electricity tariffs,
licensing fees, and now being compelled to install organic waste
disposal machines—when waste segregation can in fact be carried out
manually by workers.
Are
the Chief Minister and his relevant members of the state cabinet even
aware that many of these kopitiam and restaurant operators have
depleted their own savings or taken on significant bank loans just to
stay afloat in these tiring years?
In
such circumstances, the state government should be offering
flexibility or a moratorium, not imposing new burdens. Hence, the
increase in licensing fees and the directive to install organic waste
machines in Penampang must be postponed, and hopefully this
burdensome policy is not practised in other municipals or district
local authorities given the current economic challenges faced by our
local Sabah entrepreneurs, SMEs and all.
I
stand firmly with the kopitiam and restaurant owners in Penampang,
where many of them are people I have known since my childhood.
Warisan will oppose any policy that is insensitive and fails to
reflect the realities on the ground.
—
End —
Christopher
Masudal
Director
of Strategic Communications
Parti
Warisan
19
April 2026
