Public in favour of statewide ban on single-use plastic bags
By ANNABELLE LAWRENCE
Metro News
Monday, 15 Dec 2025

PERAK’S plan to implement a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags beginning Jan 1, 2026, has garnered positive public reaction, and is seen as a necessary move to tackle the growing plastic waste problem.

General worker Nurul Asmida Idris, 30, said she welcomed the ban.

“Once plastic bags are banned, we will see less rubbish.

“During events, we sometimes collect three to four lorry loads of waste and most of it is plastic bags.”

She said many landfills were filling up with plastic waste, while discarded bags were often seen clogging drains during rain, causing blockages and contributing to flash floods.

“Using woven bags while shopping will be good for the environment in the long term.”

Banker Murshidul Amin Nor­azman, 28, said people were increasingly aware of the dangers of single-use plastic bags and were slowly adapting to alternatives.

He said many retail outlets had begun phasing out the use of plastic bags, and encouraging customers to buy reusable ones.

“Supermarkets are already practising this.

“Over time, as more places adopt this, people will become more conscious and eventually reduce their plastic usage.”

Kindergarten operator Amirah Mohd Amin, 39, said the move was beneficial as excess plastic bags had become unmanageable in homes.

“Plastic bags pile up and we don’t know where to put them.

“If discarded indiscriminately, it could cause drains to be clogged and causing flooding.”

She said the ban was an opportunity to teach people sustainable habits.

“We can train our kids to bring their own woven bags, reusing them for groceries and daily shopping.

“Businesses will also adapt because people will be aware that they must bring their own bags.

“More awareness campaigns on the dangers of single-use plastic bags should be held.”

Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said the move was timely, pragmatic and necessary as the current policy of charging for plastic bags had failed to change consumer behaviour; usage remain­ed high and was on the rise.

“In 2016, the state government announced its intention to ban plastic bags and polystyrene products effective June 1, 2017, in line with national efforts to tackle single-use plastics, following earlier steps that restricted plastic use in government offices and cafeterias.

“However, the 2017 ban plan struggled because many traders and small businesses were not properly informed or prepared.”

He said the lack of clear regulation, guidelines, support and alternatives to plastic undermined compliance.

“Over time, authorities concluded that a full ban was premature especially given the lack of awareness among consumers and the limited availability of affordable, safe alternatives.

“As a result, they shifted to the pollution-charge or bag-fee approach, hoping economic disincentives and gradual awareness would change behaviour before the ban’s implementation.”

Ng said the ban would cut off the primary source of plastic bag consumption at retail points, likely reducing the volume of single-­use plastic entering landfills, waterways and the environment.

“With no plastic bags offered at points-of-sale, consumers are more likely to use reusable bags, which normalises more sustainable habits and lowers risk of plastic pollution, microplastics, contamination of water, soil, harm to wildlife and possible long-term human health risks.”

He said it could also reduce litter in streets drains and rivers, lower flooding risk and improve cleanliness.

“The disadvantages are that implementation and enforcement can be difficult especially in rural areas, wet markets and night markets as there may be lack of safe, affordable substitutes.”

Ng said non-governmental organisations such as Ipoh City Watch, Kohijau and Lions Clubs should use the opportunity to raise environmental awareness by running campaigns about plastic pollution, benefits of reusable bags and waste reduction.

“I would recommend the state government couple the ban with public-education campaigns, especially in rural areas, support for affordable reusable or alternative-bag supply, waste-segregation infrastructure, incentives for recycling or upcycling and collaboration with businesses to ensure smooth transition and equity.”

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news...se-plastic-bags

the truth is that banning plastic bag

is bullshit feel good propaganda initiated by gomens trying to look good

and mass media like this site is unable to publish actual thoughts because they will be banned

the actual truth is that Malaysia does not behave like the Japanese (who uses plastic far more than us)

is because leadership from young, is lacking severely

ie the lack of leadership from those that champions this ban

This post has been edited by Redhunt: Dec 16 2025, 08:51 AM

problem with waste management, but blame plastic...

Both can be true

Individual waste management, yes
Despite being though the 3R reduce reuse recycle in school, it's never put into practice

Singapore top in the world for single-use plastic waste per person, do you see them complaining about clogging plastic in their drain? lol

It's a right move. But pls stop the inport of plastic waste.

No point you ban the use but gov alllow it to be bought over to malaysia

I am in favor. If we can reduce plastic use, we should. Because the real lie is that plastic can be recycled. It is costly and recycle plastic have little to no use and releases more toxic material

Already:

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=5532982

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=5532804

don't stop there. what about single-use plastic bottles? meh.

Meanwhile...

not individual or education, is the system.. whats the point of 3r where single-stream compactor truck is sent to collect 'commingled' waste

Do the states like Perak have jurisdiction over online platforms?

I think the ban is only on major retailers providing plastic bags to bag groceries. It's not a blanket ban on the use and sale of such bags. You will still see small sundry shops giving out plastic bags. Ditto pasar malam sellers.

Despite supermarket here doesn't use it
I still have tons of it

Many of which already deteriorated

Bring own bag lor... plastic bag now charge 30 cents? Expensive

Should promote biodegradable one.

Don't want plastic bag then don't use garbage bag. Do it like the old times when you just put all rubbish inside tong and wait for cleaner to collect. See whether those cleaner will rage quit or not.

And this is why need to reduce plastic bag usage

Consumer Plastic Rcyling program scam .

Put the responsiblities on consumer .
Should put the responsiblity on manufacturer .. tax them .
Or ask plastic manufacturer to collect and recycle them , or dont use material that cannot degrade .

Now they do easy way .. put recycle logo ... then guilt us if not do their job .

Obviously most ktards doesn't go to pasar to buy groceries, try buying fish/pork/chicken & veggies for a large family of 4 that
lasts a whole week w/out using plastic bags to carry them. See how many disposable bags you need. Plastic bags have their
usage everywhere but the problem is Malaysians mindset & bad habit of littering is the problem.

This post has been edited by fanlou: Dec 16 2025, 09:46 AM

Just go and get biodegradable rubbish bag from CCP land. Cost CNY 0.01 each during promotion, and they have promotion almost every week.

Many parts of Perak still using styrofoam food containers which can lead to health problems.

But their focus is on plastic bags…

Why focus only on consumers and not also the manufacturers and packaging industry? What about bottled water producers? They should eb the first to shut down. Supermarkets should also be banned from providing plastic bags to pack vegetables/fruits. The should change to paper bags. What is the point if I bring one recyclable carrier bag filled with 10 items all wrapped in plastic and polystyrene? Also what is the point of all this if government keeps issuing/renewing licensee for factories manufacturing plastic bags? Stupid shiok sendiri nothing gained policy.

The ones being used now is biodegradable

After some time of not using it and you decide to use it...it will tear apart very easily

pour all food waste directly inside the tong la... what for use garbage bag...

Agree . Still , manufacturer should take most of responsiblity . They produce the waste actually . Not us .

Stop guilting us when their effort is just a logo .

Perak state govt always full of bs one, ask them properly do their job first like repairing/upgrade roads, unclog drains first before
implementing sohai ideas. Perak is not a rich state, ppl here often cooks at home so the need to buy a lot of groceries. Without
plastic bags, it will be harder for them to carry things esp. the poor old folks that don't have cars & too old to ride bikes.

A good start to reduce waste.

But most of the waste management can be further improved, perhaps can mandate the use of bio-degradable plastics or paper bags as well.

Malaysia contributes quite significantly to ocean /water way plastics, about time to put in some effort to solve it.

Orang yg buang, plastik yg dipersalahkan ...

Bila nak ban manufacturers from using plastic for their packaging?

Basically a greenwashing skem

Even worse

Why "Biodegradable Plastic" is Problematic
Specific Conditions Required: Most materials labeled "biodegradable" (such as polylactic acid or PLA) are only certified to break down in commercial composting facilities under controlled conditions of high heat, oxygen, and moisture. They do not degrade in conventional landfills (due to lack of oxygen) or in marine environments as consumers might assume.

Contamination of Recycling Streams: When these items are incorrectly placed in standard recycling bins, they can contaminate the entire batch of recyclable plastics, as most sorting facilities cannot differentiate between them and conventional plastics.

Microplastics Formation: Some so-called "biodegradable" plastics, particularly those labeled "oxo-degradable," are just conventional plastics with additives that cause them to break down into smaller fragments more quickly. This does not mean they disappear; they simply turn into microplastics, which persist in the environment and can be ingested by wildlife, potentially posing a greater risk.

Misleading Labeling: The term "biodegradable" has no standardized timeframe, meaning a product could theoretically take centuries to degrade but still be labeled as such. This general term misleads consumers into thinking the product will break down harmlessly in any environment, fostering a "throwaway culture".

Toxic Chemicals: Research has found that many bioplastics—including certified compostable ones—still contain thousands of different chemicals, hundreds of which are known to be toxic, which can be released during the breakdown process.

But I still need plastic bag to throw rubbish….

All this while letting manufacturers do whatever they want? No thanks.

Anyone can teach me how to throw rubbish without using plastic bags?

shhhhh... most of them only digital life living on the internet they no need to buy grocery....
the problem most on single person like me. go for grocery after work, dont tell me i bring 3~4 nylon bag to work....also dont tell me leaving it in car......


thats why totally remove plastic bag from the country not the solution.
prolly some of them selective remember how food&beverage sector react to banning straw last time
and we yet talk about stupid paper straw lol

The irony

The govt should not ban plastic bags without a viable solution.
Many people re-use these single use plastic bags for domestic waste disposal, so that its easier for rubbish collectors to collect and without leaving a stinking mess.

Without plastic bags, how are domestic waste going to be handled ? Do we have to purchase those large black thick plastic bags just for waste disposal ?

Alot/almost all tapao food container/box is plastic also…

No more plastic bag, so rubbiah wanna throw wrap with wat?? Newspaper ka?

barking at the wrong tree.

instead of banning plastic bag use or straws. should look at enforcing no littering and clogging the drain with plastics and rubbish. penalise with community service broadcasted live

Betul betul…

N d manufactured goods .. they balut with plastic berlapis lapis … kena kopek 10-20 lapis only to discover … uhh keciknya produk lol mahal sial ( kerana plastik?) !

Nanti Garbage men kena retrench how?

Use other plastic bags

Eg. the plastic bag that the rice came in

Yes, most of my rubbish bags are recycled from whatever I can get my hands on. The reality is end of the day, I still need plastic bags….

Hahahaha . Packing biskut dulu2 dengan sekarang beza.
That time only one plastic packaging . Now three plastic .. outside , small pack and plastic frame inside .. a lot space free for air .

If ban single use plastic, u kenot pack & sell most of the items in a shop or supermarket. Then we need to cut down more trees or create some other non plastic packing material.

The problem in this country - lack of education on reduce, reuse & recycle of plastic bags.

come out with 100x more ban also no use when enforcer macam tahi.

Selective enforcement system making those who follow rules feel like idiot.

It's just a lose- lose situation for consumers. This whole no plastic bag thing is a farce

This post has been edited by xperiaVuser: Dec 16 2025, 11:31 AM

andddd

plastic usage is linked to GDP, use more plastic, higher GDP...

online shopping use many plastic and bubble wrap why govt not doing anything

gip solution on how to dispose of household waste if ban plastic bags

dun simply gip sohai suggestion w/o considering the consequences becos wan political brownie pts

It is plastic bottles, and containers that are thrown away without thinking, that is the problem. People simply toss them anywhere without thinking, and some do it sneakily like turning forest reserves into dumpsites.

This post has been edited by Hobbez: Dec 16 2025, 08:53 PM

I know in OZ, it's just the truck driver only. 😁

But the inside roll form plastic not banned.

No give free only. Can always buy plastic bag to buang sampah. 😁




Been buying plastic bags for many decades so budaya buying plastic bags is not something new.

Gardener come potong grass, he need a few big bags to put the grass into, to leave outside for collection...

Ban Rice packed in single use plastic bag.....please use back gunny/jute sack for rice

Retarded, what's the point if greedy people import plastic waste into our country?

Make it a capital crime to import plastic waste for above 1 ton, then we can talk about single-use plastic ban.

Banning plastic bags is just another “feel-good” movement in this country.

When it comes to waste management, we are still far, far behind Western countries.

We do not have proper recycling centres. When recycling centres do exist, their operating hours are not user-friendly, or they open based on ikut kepala sendiri.

What is the point of banning plastic bags when the reality is that businesses are the major contributors to plastic usage?

Visit so-called “high-class” grocery stores in Malaysia. You will see two carrots wrapped in plastic. In some cases, they even wrap a single vegetable in plastic.

Then, when customers check out at the cashier counter, plastic bags are no longer provided.

People are lectured to use recycled bags, woven bags, and other alternatives, yet most businesses continue to actively use plastic packaging for food products and many other items. I'm talking about food manufacturers and other manufacturers.

What a major hypocrite. Only dumb people won't see this thing.


This post has been edited by Alternate Gabriel: Yesterday, 08:42 AM

Last time biscuit brands they sells on biscuit tin. But since they think it's no longer profitable, they changed into plastic packaging.

Inside the packaging, they pack it in 5-6 packets of biscuits. Another plastic being used.

Then they want to lecture people on using using recycle bags. While the real issues or major contributor of using plastic comes from the businessses.

long time already those KKmart 99speedmart not using it already

n Driverless soon! Haha... Even truck driver kena stay home huhuhuh!

I suka shot on sight ... lagi best.