By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 30: Rice straws will be used instead of plastic straws in all markets and hawker centres under the jurisdiction of the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) beginning July 1, 2022.
MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng stated this today during the ‘No Plastic Straw Awareness Dialogue 2022’ with hawkers under MBKS’ jurisdiction, which was held in the council’s auditorium.
“A month ago, on April 21, during Earth Day, we prevented 1,273,820 plastic straws from entering our waterways and landfills.
“After about a month, the number had risen to 1,387,320 plastic straws.
“The end result is a job well done, not only by the council but by all of you,” he pointed out.
The mayor distributed 100 packs of rice straws from Naked Wonders, a Kuching-based enterprise that promotes the use of edible and degradable rice straws, to hawkers during the ‘No Plastic Straw Awareness Dialogue 2022’.
Additionally, he mentioned that rice straws are inexpensive, and he hoped that all the hawkers would work together with the council to phase out the use of plastic straws.
The rice straws are made from rice and tapioca that can be consumed after use. — DayakDaily
