Most people not ready to discard single-use plastic bags

MAJORITY of the people in Perak are unable to do away with single-use plastic bags, says state Environment Committee chairman Dr Abdul Aziz Bari (pic).

Abdul Aziz felt that the people were still not “culturally” prepared to do so, after using plastic bags for so long.

“In terms of policy, the state has no issue in implementing the ban on single-use plastic bags.

“Personally, I’ve long adopted a ‘no plastic bag’ practice as I am passionate about caring for the environment,” he said in an interview.

“I think our people are not prepared for it. They are still not ready,” he said, adding that pollution because of plastic was not critical in Perak.

He said the recent government policy to implement a 20sen pollution charge levied on shopping bags has outraged the people.

“I think it is a good move to increase the price for plastic bags, but it is getting ridiculed.

“The people are angry at the government because of this,” he said.

“All of us need to be patient. I hope we can come up with a win-win solution,” he added.

It was reported that a recent study by survey agency YouGov Omnibus found about 22% of the 1,013 Malaysians polled daily still used plastic straws while about 24% used at least one plastic shopping bag.

The survey also showed about 91% of the people believed conserving the environment was important with 44% saying the government had the biggest role to play.

The government is aiming to reduce single-use plastic bags under its Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics, hoping to do away with plastic bags by 2030.

Abdul Aziz said apart from the people, the government also needed to consider the plight of those in the plastic industry.

“We cannot disrupt the manufacturers’ and sellers’ businesses and trouble them.

“We are talking about a business here, worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions,” he said, adding that the state had yet to meet with the relevant industry players on the matter.

“We cannot just put up a ban based on whims and fancy, especially during the current economy which is not in tip-top condition.

“Imagine if we implement the ban and people in the plastic industry lose their jobs,” he added.

Abdul Aziz also said any policy to ban single-use plastic bags should come from the local governments.

“We (Pakatan Harapan) are barely into our first year as the state government.

“Maybe we could do it in the second year.

“Hopefully, we can do it within our term but we really have to think and consider this very carefully,” he added.