KUALA LUMPUR: Netizens have backed a move to increase the current fee of RM0.20 for each plastic bag purchased at retail outlets in a move to further intensify awareness among consumers.
The support came after the Penang government proposed to increase the current charge of 20 sen for each plastic bag to 50 sen.
Zuraidah Zainal Abidin wrote on @NSTOnline Facebook saying that the amount should be higher than the RM0.20 sen imposed now.
Facebook user Tan Sion said in a move to create awareness among consumers a charge of RM1 should be imposed for each plastic bag.
Another social media user Mokhtar Yusoff proposed a much higher charge - RM5 for each plastic bag.
“Only then can you see a tremendous change in the attitude of the consumers,” he wrote.
Razalie Hassan said the best measure was to impose a total ban on the use of plastic bags.
“Better awareness is to totally abolish the use of plastic bags, not making profit from its sale.”
His sentiment was echoed by John Wong who called for a total ban on plastic bags.
“A total ban is simpler,” he said.
It was reported that the Penang government proposed to charge 50 sen for each plastic bag, should the consumers need one.
Although the plan will only be implemented after discussion and feedback from various stakeholders, many have voiced their support for the go-green move.
Penang is the first state to introduce the ‘No Free Plastic Bag’ campaign on each Saturday since 2009, with a charge of 20 sen for each plastic bag.
The campaign then extended to all days in 2011.
Back in 2014, the Melaka government introduced three days of ‘No Plastic Bag Day’, where consumers were required to bring their own bags every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The move then was extended to every day from January 2016.
In Selangor, the ‘No Free Plastic Bag’ on Saturday was introduced in January 2010 before it was made mandatory seven days a week in January 2017, with each plastic bag disbursed charged 20 sen.
Five months after its implementation, a total of RM1.87 million had been collected from shoppers in the state.
The collection, however, only involved supermarkets and food outlets which had informed the state government, through their trade associations, with 63.98 per cent of the collection coming from supermarkets.
It was reported last year that the Selangor government was aiming for a total ban of plastic bags by 2030. This is in line with the country’s ‘Road Map Towards Zero Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030’ launched last October.
In Kedah, starting April, consumers will have to pay 20 sen for every plastic bag, should they need one, on every Friday and Saturday.