SHAH ALAM, March 24 — For the Ramadan fasting month this year, the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) is cooperating with state-owned subsidiary company Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) to launch a sustainability-driven Ramadan bazaar.
The company behind the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) initiative to revitalise Sungai Klang said the bazaar will be situated at Taman Awam Pangkalan Batu in Klang and is part of the effort further foster environmental awareness among the public.
It will bring together local vendors, businesses and visitors in an attempt to encourage them to adopt sustainable practices, like shoppers bringing their own reusable containers or tiffin carriers, vendors offering eco-friendly packaging, and positioning recycling stations around the park to ensure inorganic waste is disposed of properly.
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#sayno2plastic Malaysia founder Tengku Datin Paduka Setia Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj (second from left) makes a purchase from a vendor using a tiffin box, during the launch of the sustainable Ramadan bazaar at Taman Awam Pangkalan Batu in Klang, on March 23, 2023. — Picture by LANDASAN LUMAYAN SDN BHD[/caption]
The sustainable Ramadan bazaar also has royal support, as #sayno2plastic Malaysia's founder Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj is keen on bazaar goers bringing their own containers when buying food and beverages at Ramadan bazaars everywhere.
"It is disheartening to see the amount of plastic packaging used each year during this period, and I believe practising sustainability year-round can make a significant impact in reducing waste.
"Let us make conscious choices and work together to change our behaviour," said Her Highness during the bazaar launch yesterday afternoon.
On her part, MPK President Noraini Roslan said this is the perfect opportunity for the public to use fewer plastics and packaging.
"We have a dedicated group of traders who are willing to commit to being more sustainable, and I believe we can be an example of how we can celebrate our traditions, while also being responsible citizens," she said.
LLSB managing director Syaiful Azmen Nordin said the bazaar is a welcome opportunity to offer an environmentally-conscious option for those celebrating Ramadan.
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#sayno2plastic Malaysia founder Tengku Datin Paduka Setia Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj (right) holding a tiffin box, during the launch of the sustainable Ramadan bazaar at Taman Awam Pangkalan Batu in Klang, on March 23, 2023. — Picture by LANDASAN LUMAYAN SDN BHD[/caption]
"It is important for Malaysians to be aware of their consumption habits and encourage better choices that benefit the environment," he said, adding the bazaar's location was a strategic decision to remind people of the value of Malaysia's rivers and of the need to protect them.
With support from Persatuan Usahawan Digital Muslim Selangor, vendors are encouraged to offer discounts to customers with their own containers.
Similarly, bazaar visitors have the chance to take a photo of themselves at SMG’s #PlastikTakOnz #sayno2plastic Photobooth with their ‘cool’ tiffins, cups and carrier bags and share them on Instagram to win prizes every week.
The Ramadan bazaar will take place from March 23 to April 23, and features Buka Puasa Tepi Sungai, where visitors can break their fast while taking in the picturesque scenery of Sungai Klang. They can also bring their own mats (tikars) to the venue for a more immersive Ramadan experience.
Overlooking the river, Taman Awam Pangkalan Batu's uniqueness lies in SMG's
overarching environmental success story, and the steps that have been taken to revive the river through cleaning initiatives which first began in 2016.
