Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will address waste trafficking at the regional and global levels in its capacity as the ASEAN chair this year, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Liew Chin Tong said today. He emphasized the need for ASEAN to accelerate its transition towards a circular economy and a low-carbon model, while acknowledging the different capacities of each member country.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Liew highlighted the importance of collaboration both within the region and internationally to harmonize policies, share expertise, and tackle common challenges like waste trafficking. He made these remarks during his speech at the Technical Seminar: Waste Trafficking and Circular Economy, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Liew pointed out the necessity for source countries, particularly in Europe and North America, to take proactive measures to curb waste trafficking at its origin. He acknowledged the efforts of the European Union in this regard and expressed Malaysia’s intent to deepen collaboration with the EU and other source countries to tackle the issue. Liew called for more proactive efforts from these countries.

The deputy minister also tied the solutions for waste trafficking to the adoption of a circular economy, including Malaysia’s move towards Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. This approach aims to ensure that producers are accountable for managing their waste.

Liew stressed the importance of considering the security implications of waste trafficking, noting that reducing such activities would lead to a safer Malaysia, a safer ASEAN, and a safer world. He reiterated MITI’s commitment to promoting sustainable trade and supporting Malaysia’s transition towards a green economy.