Lai Cheng – Consumers Association Penang

Starbucks Plastic Cups Marked Recyclable End Up in Trash, says Environmental Group

Lai Cheng May 22, 2026 0 Comments

Starbucks’ plastic single-use cups it often serves in US cafes are not as recyclable as the company claims, an environmental nonprofit group says. Starbucks had in February announced that its polypropylene cold-beverage cups were considered "widely recyclable" in the US. The cups prominently feature a recycling icon and are depicted as recyclable on in-store recycling bins. But new findings...

SIMPLE ACTIONS THAT REDUCE FOOD WASTE

Lai Cheng May 20, 2026 0 Comments

Each year, a land area larger than China is used to produce food that will be lost along food supply chains. This also means wasting water, energy and effort that goes into growing, transporting and preparing it, while adding to climate pressures. The good news is that this is something we can all help change. From shopping mindfully to composting what’s left, here are some simple actions that...

DRINKING TEA OR PLASTIC?

Lai Cheng May 19, 2026 0 Comments

A 2019 study in McGill University in Montreal, Canada found that a single plastic teabag steeped in boiling water can release 11.6 billion microplastics (fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm in length) and 3.1 billion nanoplastics (extremely small pieces or particles of plastic). People who drink tea could thus be repeatedly dosing themselves with billions of plastic particles, some...

A Stronger Sustainable Finance Taxonomy is Needed for Our Forests, Biodiversity and Community Rights

Lai Cheng May 19, 2026 0 Comments

The recent effort to update the Malaysia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, a classification system for projects based on environmental and social criteria, falls short of adequately protecting forests, biodiversity and safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) took part in the public consultation on the draft Malaysia Taxonomy for...

Preparing for a Prolonged Energy Crisis

Lai Cheng May 19, 2026 0 Comments

The oil supply shortage is a global issue, and Malaysia cannot continue sustaining its RON95 and diesel subsidies indefinitely. It was reported in early March 2026 that the government was subsidising RM3.2 billion per month, but by April 2026 this had risen to more than RM6 billion per month. Even at RM3.2 billion per month, the subsidy would cost the government close to RM40 billion per year,...

True Health Lies in Prevention & Lifestyle Changes

Lai Cheng May 18, 2026 0 Comments

William Osler, often referred to as the Father of Modern Medicine, once said that the primary duty of physicians is to educate patients not to take medicine unless necessary. Osler believed in the importance of educating patients on prevention rather than simply treating symptoms. His famous quote, "One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine", serves...

Relist Nicotine into Poisons Act, CAP Urges Government

Lai Cheng May 18, 2026 0 Comments

The Government must urgently reinstate nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952 following a High Court ruling which struck down the 2023 decision to remove liquid and gel nicotine from the Poisons List, says CAP. "The High Court decision is a victory for public health," says CAP anti-smoking activist N.V. Subbarow. "The delisting of nicotine was very shameless and it goes against the health of young...

Government’s Decision to Remove Nicotine Vape Liquids and Gels from Poisons List “Irrational”, Rules High Court

Lai Cheng May 18, 2026 0 Comments

The High Court has ruled that the Government acted irrationally and without proper consultation when it removed nicotine vape liquids and gels from the Poisons List in 2023, dealing a setback to efforts that would have paved the way for taxing vape products. Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman allowed a judicial review application filed by civil society groups — Voice of Children (VoC), the Malaysian...

CAP Calls to Stop Wildlife Crime

Lai Cheng May 15, 2026 0 Comments

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) refers to the recent seizure of wildlife parts in Johor valued at over RM36.8 million. While the swift action by authorities is commendable, the scale of the haul exposes a far more troubling reality: illegal wildlife trafficking in Malaysia is not only persistent, but highly organised and deeply entrenched. The confiscation involving tiger parts,...

CAP’s Asbestos Awareness Raising Programme in Sungai Siput, Perak

Lai Cheng May 14, 2026 0 Comments

On 9 May 2026, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) organised an awareness raising programme on asbestos at SJKT Gandhi Kalasalai, Sungai Siput, Perak. A total of 39 participants attended the programme, consisting of 15 males and 24 females. Five youths also joined the programme, which added more value and made the awareness session more impactful. The main objective of the programme was...

Author: Lai Cheng