UMT Contributes to Mid-Term Evaluation of Malaysia’s Plastic Sustainability and Marine Litter Policies
14 April 2026 | Putrajaya
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) participated in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Series 1 for the Mid-Term Review of three key national policy instruments related to plastic sustainability and marine litter management, following an invitation by the Environmental Management Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, alongside the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia and other strategic stakeholders. Held at The Everly Hotel Putrajaya, the session marked an important platform to assess progress, identify challenges and discuss future priorities in Malaysia’s transition towards sustainable plastic management and marine litter mitigation.
The discussion focused on the implementation and effectiveness of three strategic policy documents, namely the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018–2030, the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Framework 2021–2030, and the National Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan 2021–2030. The engagement brought together representatives from ministries, agencies, local authorities, universities, non-governmental organisations, private sector stakeholders and industry players, reflecting a whole-of-nation approach in addressing plastic pollution and marine environmental challenges.
Importantly, UMT’s participation in this workshop also reflects its contribution beyond policy review, as the university was involved in earlier engagements supporting the drafting and development of the framework, particularly through academic and technical inputs related to sustainability and marine environmental management. Its continued involvement in the Mid-Term Review demonstrates UMT’s sustained commitment to supporting evidence-based policy development and implementation at the national level, while contributing scientific expertise to strengthen strategies on plastic sustainability and marine litter governance.
The primary objective of the focus group discussion was to gather insights and feedback from stakeholders through the Mid-Term Review process to identify the current status, effectiveness and implementation gaps of ongoing initiatives under these policy frameworks. The session also provided a platform to explore opportunities to strengthen policy coherence, improve implementation mechanisms and enhance collaborative action in support of circular economy principles, responsible plastic use and the protection of marine ecosystems.
UMT’s engagement underscores the important role of higher education institutions in bridging science, policy and practice, while reinforcing the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing environmental governance and national sustainability goals. The initiative also highlights UMT’s role in contributing to solutions that reduce plastic leakage into the environment, strengthen marine pollution management and support long-term ecological resilience.
This initiative supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through sustainable materials management and circular economy approaches, SDG 14 (Life Below Water) through actions to reduce marine litter and protect ocean ecosystems, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through sustainable waste management and environmental resilience, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through multi-stakeholder collaboration, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through improved waste governance and sustainable environmental management.