Public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the state government is identifying the sources of authority that will allow them to enforce the initiative.

“Actually, we have held a workshop to strengthen or tighten the relevant laws in addition to enforcement actions on the matter,” she told the Selangor legislative assembly here today.

“We are identifying the sources of authority under the state government’s jurisdiction that can be leveraged to ensure the effective implementation of this initiative.”

Jamaliah was responding to a supplementary question from Mariam Abdul Rashid (PH-Meru) about the state government’s plans to advance its zero-plastic and polystyrene campaign.

Selangor first implemented the “No Plastic Bag Day” campaign in 2010, initially on Saturdays, which received support from most supermarkets, mini markets and other businesses.

Consumers are charged 20 sen for each plastic bag, and the collected funds are directed towards charitable causes and environmental conservation programmes.