Madras Lane customers given plastic straws with their cold drinks on the first day of the festival. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
SINGLE-USE plastic straws are still being utilised in Penang despite a ban imposed four years ago.
At the ongoing Nine Emperor Gods Festival, vegetarian food and drinks stall holders were found to be openly flouting the rule.
A check found plastic straws being given out at most of the drink stalls, with one operator quickly switching to a paper straw when approached about the matter.
Hawkers cited reasons such as hygiene concerns and cost for continuing to use plastic straws at the religious event.
A hawker in Madras Lane said if he used disposable plastic cups with paper straws, he would have to separate the items when disposing them at the bins.
“I only provide paper straws if the customer requests it,” he said.
Most patrons at the stall were seen using plastic straws.
The exception among hawkers was Leng Leong Fatt, 53, who said he wanted to do his bit to protect the environment.
“This year is the first time I am switching from plastic to paper straws, which cost about 50% more,” he added.
Despite the extra cost, he said he maintained most of his food prices and had even come up with a promotional price of RM3 for a plate of wantan mee.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) public health and licensing sub-committee alternate chairman Tan Soo Siang said although the state government had enforced the plastic straw ban in 2020, the council had made it a licensing requirement this year.
While hawkers have been given a grace period to clear their stock, those operating temporary stalls for the festival were prohibited from using single-use plastic straws.
“For the first time, the council has banned the use of plastic straws during this festival.
“The use of disposable plastic plates, cups and utensils are discouraged,” she said.
Hawker Goh Hong Chuan, 54, who started selling vegetarian kuey teow soup this year, said it cost him RM4,000 to operate the stall for 10 days until Oct 11.
“This does not include rental and use of other appliances such as the refrigerator.
“This is my first year and business has been slow the first few days,” he said.
Jason Mook, 36, who sells vegetarian pizza, hoped his business would pick up over the weekend.
“I’ve been trading here for over 10 years and my speciality pizza includes vegetarian sausage and cheese.
“On average, I’m able to sell 50 slices of pizza daily on weekdays but hope to hit 100 slices during the weekend,” he said.
Jeffrey Koh, 35, who sells rice and a variety of dishes with a team of 40 workers during the festival, said pricing was a big challenge.
“Due to rising costs, some dishes are up 50sen but I am maintaining the price of my drinks this year,” he said.
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, popularly known as Kew Ong Yeah in the Penang Hokkien dialect, begins on the first day of the ninth lunar month that fell on Oct 3 this year.
During this period, devotees observe a strict vegetarian diet for nine to 10 days.
