THE Seberang Prai Municipal Council is targeting to turn Seberang Prai into a smart city with low carbon footprint by 2022.

Its president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said the council had chosen the theme ‘Seberang Prai Resilient, Inclusive, Green and Competitive’ to drive it forward.

“This theme has been incorporated into the Seberang Prai Strategic Plan 2018-2022.

“The plan illustrates the commitment and efforts mobilised by MPSP in formulating the strategies towards creating a liveable city with low carbon footprint,” he said.

Rozali said this when launching the 8R Concept Carnival at the Kota Permai public market in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, on Sunday.

The council together with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Batu Kawan jointly embarked on the programme to create awareness of the importance of smart consumption and the need to protect the environment.

The 8Rs are ‘Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Re-gift, Recover and Recycle.’

Rozali said the council launched the zero-waste campaign in 2010, targeting schools, the community and factories.

“To make it more successful, the 8R concept is being introduced.

“Smart consumption is important because when less waste is generated, the cost for waste management will be reduced and this is good for the environment, he said.

Also present were MPSP Urban Services Department director Mohd Puad Hamid, Batu Kawan JCI president Ang Hui Fong, carnival organising chairman Yeoh Kang Wet and Auto City Sdn Bhd managing director Gary Teoh.

Rozali said the carnival would be held every last Sunday of the month at the Kota Permai market.

“There will be a different theme each month and February’s theme is No usage of plastic bags.”

Among the activities held at the carnival were the buying of recyclable materials, sale of items to upcycle, barter trading, sale of organic vegetables and a drawing competition with the 8R theme.

Rozali thanked the Batu Kawan JCI for making the carnival successful and hoped to get good response from residents on the mainland.

He also thanked the residents of Taman Kota Permai who attended the event and for giving their commitment toward the recycling programme.

Source: The Star

Photo source: The Star