State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said the mere suggestion to give free plastic bags when out shopping was against every effort to cut down the use of plastic bags in the country.
“It is offensive to mankind and mother nature. Here, we are trying hard to cut down on the use of plastic bags in our country and these people want to reverse it.
“This goes to confirm what we heard about BN’s credentials when it comes to the environment,” he told FMT.
In a talk in Kuala Langat yesterday, Selangor BN information chief Satim Diman said they would remove the requirement to pay 20 sen for plastic bags if BN swept into power in the state.
He also said, ideally, a factory producing plastic bags should be set up by the Selangor government so plastic bags can be made free for all, he was reported as saying in Malaysiakini.
Separately, Selangor BN chairman Noh Omar told Berita Harian that businesses should pay consumers 20 sen for bringing their own bags and not charge them for plastic bags instead.
The Selangor government began charging 20 sen for plastic bags from Jan 1, 2017. It had collected RM1.87 million as of July last year.
The federal government has implemented a policy of no plastic bags every Saturday.
Phee, who was behind Penang’s policy of no free plastic bags, said the state’s move to charge for bags since 2009 has borne fruit.
He said now most shoppers in Penang carried their own bags and trolleys, as they were more conscious about the environment.
“The awareness has created this amazing chain reaction, where more people are recycling. It is no wonder Penang is the number one state in Malaysia in terms of recycling efforts,” he said.
Phee said the concern about plastic bags is not unwarranted. He said an estimated 100,000 marine animals die each year after suffocating on or ingesting bags.
“It is funny the Selangor leaders want to give away free plastic bags when Prime Minister Najib Razak told a UN climate change summit in Copenhagen in 2009 that the country aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 40%, come 2020,” he said.
Penang began its “no free plastic bag” policy on July 1, 2009, starting with chargeable plastic bags on Mondays. It also enforced a permanent ban on the use of polystyrene food containers.
It then extended the ban to three days in 2010 from Monday to Wednesday. A complete ban on free plastic bags was imposed in 2011.
The policy covers hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, petrol stations, chain stores and pharmacies.
It excludes hawkers, wet markets and standalone businesses such as sundry shops.
The revenue from the 20 sen collected from those who choose to pay for plastic bags is channelled to the state’s poverty eradication fund.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) had said the 20 sen charge might not work as people would opt to buy plastic bags.
CAP said it was best for state governments and supermarkets to change from plastic bags to paper bags or recycled boxes, as practised overseas.