Ipoh: The Perak government is finalising measures to enforce a total ban on single-use plastic bags across the state from January 2026. This move comes after the previously implemented pollution charge on plastic bags proved ineffective in curbing their usage.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim stated that the proposal is currently under review by the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) before being submitted to local authorities (PBT) for consideration. Teh highlighted that plastic pollution charges collected by all PBTs in Perak amounted to RM204,238.80 in 2023 and rose to RM597,348.80 in 2024. From January to September 2025, RM361,510.60 was collected, bringing the total amount to RM1,163,098.20 from 598 premises.

Responding to a query from Goh See Hua (PH-Pasir Pinji) regarding the state's measures to reduce single-use plastic bags, Teh noted that the increase in plastic usage charge collections in 2024 and the high figures up to September 2025 reflected a public lack of awareness about the harmful impact of single-use plastics on the environment and health. He pointed out that the 20-sen pollution charge per plastic piece was found to be ineffective and had minimal financial impact on some consumers.

Teh emphasized that the charge was intended to reduce and avoid the use of plastic bags, particularly single-use ones, and to encourage people to carry their own reusable bags for daily activities. However, he acknowledged several challenges in the state's efforts to reduce and ban single-use plastic bags, including low awareness among certain community segments and the limited availability of safe, clean, and reasonably priced packaging options at wet and night markets.

The state assembly sitting is set to continue on Monday.