Items with party logos are usually disposed of in landfills or sent for energy recovery. – Filepic
Deposits for a permit to display election materials should start from RM10,000, says Petaling Jaya city councillor Rahibah Che Omar.
The Zone 22 councillor said the current deposit of RM3,000 for waste management as well as RM1,000 and RM2,000 respectively for state and parliamenatary constituencies to display election materials were too low.
“The parties are not limited by the locations and number of items (campaign materials) that can be placed,” she said at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) full board meeting.
“It will be good if waste from election campaigns are recycled but it is not possible for all such items.
“If incinerated, they can release toxic fumes into the environment; if they are disposed of, they will only end up in landfills.
Rahibah is calling for the city council to look at promoting greener election campaigns.
“This does not contribute to environmental sustainability,” Rahibah said, adding that in the 14th General Election, waste collected during election month increased from 250,000 to 269,000 tonnes.
She suggested that the number of banners, posters and buntings from political parties and candidates be limited, as well as use designated zones for placing election materials.
Rahibah called for amendments to be made to the Election Advertisements (MBPJ) 2007 by-laws to limit the carbon footprint during elections.
“The city council can play a role in promoting eco-friendly campaigns and this will limit the number of ads and waste, while promoting the use of digital advertising,” she said.
When approached after the meeting, Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Azhan Md Amir said the council would bring Rahibah’s suggestions to the Election Commission.
MBPJ Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Department director Zain Azly Abdul Rahman confirmed that most of the waste would be disposed of in landfills while some would be recycled or sent to a waste-to-energy facility in Jeram, Selangor.
“It is usually items with party logos that will be disposed of in landfills or sent for energy recovery to prevent them from being re-used inappropriately,” he said.
Enforcement director Mohd Fauzi Maarop said the process of releasing deposits was still being finalised and could not confirm if there were candidates who had not cleared all election-related materials as required by law.
Section 24B(8) of the Election Offences Act 1954 provides that all election campaign materials displayed within 14 days after the Aug 12 polling day.
