KUALA LUMPUR – Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan has called for Putrajaya to provide clearer details regarding its decision to legalise fireworks, before Dewan Rakyat sittings resume on Monday.
Urging government authorities to share more information with the people on how the move will affect their lives, the first-time MP told The Vibes that he is “unsure” about how lawmakers will be tackling the legalisation of the product.
Are they (the government) going to table a law (on legalising fireworks)? Will it be (implemented) through a change in policing? Is it merely an administrative decision?
“It is unclear, at least to me,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Besides that, he said that the government should obtain input and feedback from various stakeholders before taking the next step, adding that he is “unaware” if such engagement sessions had been held prior to the decision being made.
He also confirmed that he had received an email from automotive journalist Paul Tan, who had urged netizens to write to their MPs regarding their displeasure over legalising fireworks.
However, Syahredzan said that he has also been informed that there are those in support of the decision, which was announced last week by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.
“I have received the email (from Tan), but I have also received feedback from other constituents who support any move to legalise and regulate the purchase and use of fireworks,” the DAP lawmaker said.
The template Tan had provided for social media users to send to their MPs asserted that the decision to legalise fireworks “has the potential to bring a number of negative consequences, including noise pollution, risks of injury to humans, fire risks, environmental harm, and proliferation of waste”.
Tan had previously told The Vibes that while the new government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is still in its early days, he might consider withholding his vote from Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming state elections if policy changes continue to negatively impact his life.
The Malaysia Consumers’ Movement has since disagreed with the cabinet’s “baffling” move, with the group’s deputy president Beninder Singh questioning Putrajaya’s priorities in increasing tax revenue from the sales of fireworks at the cost of public safety.
When announcing the move, Nga said that the Home Ministry would be drawing up regulations on licensing the import and sales of fireworks and firecrackers.
Despite the ban, these items are still set off during festive seasons, whether Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, or Deepavali. – The Vibes, February 10, 2023
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