A ‘New Price’ sign on display at a plastic supply store in Serusop. - BB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): The cost of takeaway food, shopping, and the operations of home businesses and food stall owners have been impacted with taxes on plastics, which include products in all primary forms, plastic bags, and disposable food containers.
The items have been subjected to a BND5 per kilogramme excise tax with the recent update to Customs import and excise duties by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, which came into effect on May 17, replacing the previous three-per-cent tax.
A sales representative of a plastic and container store said the establishment recently adjusted the prices of plastic bags. The store plans to introduce new pricing for different items gradually, beginning with plastic bags and progressing to plastic containers and other related products.
In Wednesday’s Opinion page of the Borneo Bulletin, a reader recounted her experience ordering from a restaurant and being charged 20 cents for each plastic bag provided.
Similarly, a vendor at the Jerudong Wet Market, said he had no choice but to charge customers 20 cents per plastic bag.
