SEREMBAN: All supermarkets and traders in Negri Sembilan are not allowed to charge for the provision of biodegradable plastic bags to customers.
The state's Local Government Development, Housing and Transport Committee chairman, J.Arul Kumar a ban on single-use plastic bags, polystyrene, and drinking straws has been in place since October 2022.
However, he said traders can provide biodegradable plastic bags upon request.
Arul said there were still some supermarkets charging 20 sen for each plastic bag.
"No charge can be imposed on customers for biodegradable plastic bags that business license holders voluntarily supply," he said at a press conference yesterday.
He said the state government and local authorities have given traders two years to phase out single-use plastic bags.
In the recent state government meeting, all local councils were instructed to be more aggressive in carrying out enforcement.
"Since 2022, local authorities have imposed a condition for businesses not to provide plastic bags to customers. This action is an offence and violates license conditions.
"A few companies still provide prohibited plastics such as oxo-degradable or photodegradable types that are very dangerous to humans and animals.
"The local authorities will not hesitate to issue a compound to any party that violates the conditions of this licence which may lead to cancellation of their licence," he said.
He said traders or supermarkets who commit this offence can be fined RM250 and if they fail to pay the fine, they can be taken to court.
He said that before now, local councils are still issuing warning notices to traders found to be violating the rules, and have issued 1,125 notices across the state.
"The Seremban City Council has issued 14 notices while the Rembau District Council has recorded the highest number of warning notices, which is 500, with night market traders recording the highest number," he said.
Meanwhile, in Shah Alam, the chairman of the Selangor Public Health and Environment Committee, Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the state government collected RM38 million in plastic bag charges of 20 sen from 2020 to 2023.
Jamaliah said the state government had collaborated with the Merdeka Centre to carry out a study on environmental awareness.
The study found an improvement in awareness of environmental sustainability through campaigns carried out by the state government, including the 20 sen plastic charge campaign.
The study also showed that many Selangor citizens are aware that they will be charged 20 sen if they want to obtain plastic bags when shopping.