Good move: (Left to right) Arumugan, Soh and Nurul Aisha say the move is a timely one but call for clearer guidelines.
JOHOR BARU: While members of the public have lauded the move to ban single-use plastic bags at certain areas, they are calling for clearer guidelines and consistent enforcement by the government.
Retiree K. Arumugan, 66, said it was a timely move, but the main challenge is the government’s commitment to ensuring the public takes the policy seriously.
“I believe it will not be a problem for most people to adapt to the ban. However, the real challenge is the enforcement, which should be continuous and firm.
“People need to know that the government is serious about implementation,” he said.
He also said it was important for the government to include schools in the implementation of the policy, enabling students to pick up environmentally-friendly habits from a young age.
Echoing a similar sentiment is beautician Samly Soh, 50, who said many countries have already implemented such a ban, adding that it is important for the environment.
“I don’t think it will be a problem for us to get used to the move as many people are already bringing their own shopping bags.
“A lot of supermarkets have adopted the policy, which has helped to instil the habit among Malaysians,” she said.
Student management assistant Nurul Aisha Mohd Yusoff, 38, said while she welcomed the move, she hopes that businesses can ensure they have cost-friendly alternatives in case customers forget to bring their own bags.
“The price of a bag can be quite expensive at the supermarket, especially when you need a few of them. I hope businesses will have cheaper alternatives,” she said.
