IPOH, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The Perak government is finalising measures to enforce a total ban on single-use plastic bags across the state from January 2026, following the ineffectiveness of the previously implemented pollution charge on plastic bags.
Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim, however, said that the proposal was still under review by the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) before being submitted to the local authorities (PBT) for consideration.
“Plastic pollution charges collected by all PBTs in Perak amounted to RM204,238.80 in 2023 and were reported to have increased to RM597,348.80 in 2024.
“From January to September 2025, a total of RM361,510.60 in pollution charges was collected, bringing the total amount of plastic bag usage charges by Perak PBTs to RM1,163,098.20 from 598 premises,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
He was responding to a question from Goh See Hua (PH-Pasir Pinji) about the state government’s measures to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags in Perak.
Teh said the increase in plastic usage charge collections in Perak in 2024 and the relatively high figures up to September 2025 reflected the public’s lack of awareness of the harmful impact of single-use plastics on the environment and health.
In addition, he said the 20-sen pollution charge per piece of plastic was found to be ineffective and had minimal financial impact on some consumers.
“This charge is, in principle, aimed at reducing and avoiding the use of plastic bags, particularly single-use ones, and encouraging people to carry their own reusable bags in daily activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Teh said the state government was confronted with several challenges in its efforts to reduce and ban single-use plastic bags, including the low level of awareness among certain segments of the community.
In addition, he said safe, clean and reasonably priced packaging options were still not widely available at wet markets or night markets.
The state assembly sitting continues on Monday.
--BERNAMA
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