Albert King

IN CONJUNCTION with University of Brunei Darussalam’s 21st Convocation Festival, the Exco Economy and Entrepreneurship recently organised a seminar entitled “Towards Less Plastic Usage” at the Lecture Hall, Institute of Medicine. Around 55 participants attended the seminar comprising lecturers, undergraduates, invited representatives and students from Maktab Science and Maktab Duli.

Among the reasons for the seminar were to encourage the students to be aware of the issues related with the usage of plastics so that they know how plastics harm the environment and its surroundings as well as letting the students to be part of the “Go Green” project.

The seminar began with an introduction about the importance of being environmentally responsible by the President of Exco Economy and Entrepreneurship, Rahmalini Hidayah Hj Abdul Rahman. She further elaborated on the steps taken by the PMUBD Shoppe of charging individuals 20 cents for each plastic bag used to discourage them from using plastic bags especially for just one or two small items. Moreover, the shop also introduces non-woven designed reusable bags of different sizes and colours priced affordably as an `greener’ alternative to plastic bags.

The seminar then saw the presentation of three invited speakers comprising the Acting Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, Puan Martinah Hj Tamit, a lecturer from the Faculty of Science, Dr Hj Ibrahim Abdul Rahman and a lecturer from the Faculty of Business, Economics and Policy Studies, Dr Azman. The first speaker of the event, Puan Martinah Hj Tamit, touched on the facts and figures regarding plastic usage in the country and the costs, damanges and impacts that accompanies it.

Dr Hj Ibrahim then took over and presented about the scientific side of plastic bags where he explained about the chemicals involved in plastic bags and how it may affect the environment in the Brunei Darussalam context.

The final speaker of the day, Dr Azman, briefed the audience about the policy side of plastic usage whereby he addresses issues such as what can be done, how can the public help and why should the public care about the usage of plastic. Members of the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions after the end of each speaker’s presentation.

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