Based on a study done in 2009, around 8 billion plastic bags have been
used in Malaysia. Being the most populated and urbanised state in the
country, we can assume that Selangor is a major contributor to that
statistic. That is why the state government initiated the “No Plastic
Bag Day” campaign. We are targeting a 20% reduction in the usage of
plastic bags within 6 months.

For the first three months of the campaign, January to March, we will
focus mainly on educating consumers and expanding retailer
participation. Following that, we will consider making participation a
licensing condition and study the possibility of increasing the
frequency of the “No Plastic Bag Day” per week.

We are happy to announce that the number of participating retailers
and malls have increased to 25 from the initial 12. Many more have
also expressed interest and we are in the midst of finalising their
participation.

The state government will also be meeting the Malaysian Retailers
Association, Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association and Malaysian
Plastic Manufacturer Association to get their support for the
campaign.

The Selangor state government takes the campaign very seriously. We
have received reports of participants in the campaign that are not
fully compliant of the agreement. While we understand that some
teething problems are inevitable, we urge all participants who wish to
remain part of the campaign to adhere to the agreed-upon conditions,
including the 20 sen charge for each plastic bag.

Finally, in order to propagate this campaign effectively, the state
government has created a Web site for the public to get more
information. Campaign materials in all major languages are available
on the site, while retailers interested in participating in the
campaign can download the declaration form as well.

Web site URL: http://www.selangor.gov.my/haritanpabegplastik/

Telephone number: 03-55447760
Fax number: 03-55193328
Email address: elizabethwong@selangor.gov.my

YB Elizabeth Wong
Selangor EXCO for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment

Participation list:

1. Giant Supermarket
2. IKANO Pte Ltd (IKEA)
3. 99 Speedmart Sdn Bhd
4. Guardian Pharmacy
5. Farmasi Vitacare Sdn Bhd
6. Watson’s Personal Care Store Sdn Bhd
7. Caring Pharmacy Sdn Bhd
8. The Store Corporation Berhad
9. Parkson Corporation Sdn Bhd
10. 7 Eleven Malaysia Sdn Bhd
11. AEON CO (M) Bhd (Jaya Jusco)
12. Aoneplus Supplies & Services Sdn Bhd
13. Tesco Stores (M) Sdn Bhd
14. Tropicana Life Sdn Bhd
15. Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad
16. Planete Enfants Sdn Bhd
17. IT Hyperstore (M) Sdn Bhd
18. Tien Health Development (M) Sdn Bhd
19. 1 Utama Shopping Centre
20. Sunway Pyramid
21. Subang Parade
22. Golden Screen Cinema Sdn Bhd
23. Econsave Cash & Carry Sdn Bhd
24. Carrefour Malaysia
25. HSL E & E Corp (M) Sdn Bhd

As a nation we struggle to uphold the spirit of unity that our founding fathers envisioned at independence. We must hold fast to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion and the right of religious groups to manage their own affairs.  In such times the spirit of engagement and dialogue must transcend those voices that would seek to sow discord and enmity across our land.

The people of Malaysia must unite against those who exploit race and religion to incite  hatred for political gain. We must renew our commitment to religious understanding and religious freedom.

This is a time that tests the resolve of all religions for peace and mutual respect. We must remember that the God who we worship is in fact the same God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

With respect to the use of the word Allah, for example, it cannot be disputed that Arabic speaking Muslims, Christians and Jews have collectively prayed to God as Allah throughout the last fourteen centuries. While sensitivities over its usage have arisen in Malaysia, the way to resolve these conflicts is not by burning churches and staging incendiary protests but by reasoned engagement and interreligious dialogue.

Muslims must recall the memory of our own tradition’s remarkable commitment to understanding and coexistence with the People of the Book.  Islam clearly grants respect to Christians and Jews. In the Quran’s second chapter, God says:

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God (Aal-Imran, 3:64)

And in the 29th Chapter He says:

And dispute not with the People of the Book but say “We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and that which came down to you…our God [Allah] and your God [Allah] is One, and it is to Him we bow (al-Ankabut, 29:46)

Jesus is himself revered as one of the greatest prophets whose noble example should be followed. The Caliph Umar, who visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 638 AD, was careful to ensure that the Muslims respect the sanctity of Christian places of worship. What then of our own Police’s hesitation to offer an assurance of safety and security for Malaysian churches?

Much of the blame for the recent attacks can be placed at the doorstep of the UMNO-led BN ruling party. Its incessant racist propaganda over the Allah issue and the inflammatory rhetoric issued by government controlled mainstream media especially, Utusan Malaysia, are reprehensible. Such wanton acts of provocation are indeed criminal  and demonstrate the duplicity of the 1Malaysia campaign.

I am encouraged by the swift condemnation of the attacks issued by Muslim organizations and leaders. I likewise applaud our Christian leaders for their strong statements calling for calm and forgiveness and resisting revenge and retaliation.

The need for interfaith dialogue in Malaysia is an idea whose time is long overdue. We must now advance the spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood which is inherent in our religions and enshrined in our Constitution. Pakatan Rakyat will collectively take steps to ensure that the necessary dialogue and discussion take place throughout the country. Our fellow Christians must feel safe and secure in this country knowing that their freedom to worship is protected.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Opposition Leader

While some shoppers complained about being caught unawares or insisted on getting plastic bags, others embraced the campaign enthusiastically by bringing their own shopping bags.

The Selangor state government had announced that the six-month campaign would take effect every Saturday, and consumers who request for plastic bags would be charged 20 sen per bag.

Selangor tourism, consumer and environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the campaign was to encourage the reduction of plastic bags, and not a complete ban.

Going green: Wong (right) helping a shopper pack her purchases into a reusable bag produced by the state government to promote the `No Plastic Bag Day’ campaign at Jusco, 1 Utama Shopping Centre on Saturday.

“We have 20 big retailers comprising hypermarkets, supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores who are participating during the campaign’s initial stage,” she said.

“We hope to get hundreds more to join after three months. My office is getting calls from more companies wanting to pledge their support for the campaign and we encourage concerned groups and NGOs to take part, too.”

Wong said the state government was working with the Malaysia Retailers Association to get the retailers’ support and the Malaysia Plastic Forum to get assistance in terms of lobbying for issues on plastic.

“In line with the 3R concept, we want to see a reduction in the use of plastic bags,” she said.

Big enough: A shopper using The Big Green Bag for her purchases at Tesco Mutiara Damansara.

“We will evaluate the campaign after six months, on whether the campaign should be extended and consider making it part of the licensing requirements (for retailers).

“We hope to see a 50% reduction of free distribution of plastic bags in Selangor after six months.”

Wong said this after a visit to Jusco and Cold Storage at 1 Utama Shopping Centre to distribute reusable bags and inform consumers about the campaign on Saturday.

“The shoppers’ response was beyond expectations. It is encouraging to see the people in Selangor wanting to do something for the environment,” she said.

“The state government is intensifying the campaign by producing some 35,000 reusable bags for free distribution and putting up billboards.”

Meanwhile, 10 Kuala Lumpur MPs have also submitted a petition to Kuala Lumpur City Hall for the city to initiate a similar “No Plastic Bag Day” campaign.

Consumers’ reaction

Dr Pauline Lai was out shopping with her father Richard Lai, and came prepared with some 20 reusable bags to pack their groceries.

“I always keep these bags in my car for such a purpose and have been using my own bags for grocery shopping for the past year,” said Pauline, who attributed her preparedness to environmental awareness and overseas education.

The 40-year-old pharmacist also separates her garbage at home and feels that the “No Plastic Bag” concept should be implemented nationwide.

Another shopper is secretary Chua Ai Lee who feels the move is great for the environment.

“I try to bring my own bags whenever I go out shopping,” said Chua, 35.

“But with the campaign, I am planning to intensify my efforts to make sure I don’t use so many plastic bags.”

As a fishing enthusiast, Harry Foo has seen plenty of plastic bags left discarded at lakes and beaches.

“I keep reusable bags in my car so I’ll remember to bring them along whenever I go grocery shopping,” said the 70-year-old.

Legal manager Zuraidah Mohd Yatim was among those caught unawares when shopping at a popular hypermarket.

“I had to buy recyclable bags to carry my purchases and wheel the rest in the trolley to my car,” said Zuraidah, 42.

“I knew the campaign had already started at Ikea but I didn’t know it had been extended to hypermarkets.”

One irate shopper had brought along a bag for his shopping but said it was not enough for all his groceries.

“The government should have made the campaign better known to the public. There are even fewer shoppers than usual today (on the first day of the campaign),” he said.

Environment groups

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) communication head Andrew Sebastian said Malaysians should support activities that reduced the impact on the environment, especially waste.

On the campaign’s effectiveness, Sebastian said: “We are dealing with mindset change here. It takes time, but every little bit helps.

“There are many ways to carry out such campaigns, whether in phases or immediate implementation,” he said.

“It would be great if the hypermarkets and retailers offer incentives to make it more exciting to encourage consumers to take up the initiative.”

He added that MNS was suppor- tive of the campaign and that Malaysians should reduce usage of plastic bags as part of their everyday habits.

“People have to make it part of their lifestyle for the campaign to be truly effective,” said Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia (Cetdem) executive director Anthony Tan.

He cited the example of his family making it a conscious habit to bring reusable bags with them when they go out shopping, and bringing containers when they do their marketing at the pasar malam.

“The whole point of the campaign is to educate people on the need to reduce taking excessive and unnecessary number of plastic bags,” said Tan.

“The fact remains that many are not conscious about the number of plastic bags that they use, not to mention the plastic bags that are often freely given away at food outlets or convenience stores.

“It is usually the odd-sized plastic bags that end up in drains and contaminate the environment.”

Tan added that there was also a need to educate food stall operators and retailers on the need to help the environment.

Examples in other countries

• Plastic bags are either taxed or require additional charges in places like Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Holland.

• Ireland became the first country in March 2002 to introduce a plastic bag tax on consumers, or PlasTax. Designed to reduce their rampant consumption of plastic shopping bags per year, the tax resulted in a 90% drop in consumption, and approximately one billion fewer bags consumed annually.

·In Oct 2001, Taiwan introduced a ban on distribution of free single-use plastic bags by government agencies, schools and the military. It was then expanded to include supermarkets, fast-food outlets, department stores and convenience stores. The ban was lifted in 2006 for food service operators to offer free plastic bags.

·China introduced a ban on flimsy plastic bags in June 2008 to reduce “white pollution” – the popular term for plastic bags and styrofoam packaging. Under the new rules, the state forbade production of ultra-thin bags under 0.025mm thick and ordered supermarkets to stop giving away free bags.

·Switzerland requires supermarkets to charge $0.15-$0.20 (50 sen-70 sen) per paper bag. Most shoppers bring their own reusable shopping bags.

·Since launching a 5 pence (30 sen) charge for carrier bags in May 2008, Marks & Spencers in the United Kingdom said there had been an 80% reduction in their use in the first year.

·Bangladesh slapped an outright ban on all polyethylene bags in Dhaka in March 2002 after they were found to have been the main culprit during two major floods that affected two-thirds of the country, as discarded bags were choking the drainage system.

·In Denmark, the waste tax is differentiated so that it is most expensive to landfill waste, cheaper to incinerate it and tax exempt to recycle it. It also has “green” taxes on packaging, plastic bags, disposable tableware and nickel-cadmium batteries.

The “No Plastic Bag” campaign kicks off tomorrow in Selangor – so don’t leave home without an empty or reusable bag if you plan to go shopping unless you don’t mind paying extra for plastic bags.

“This campaign just requires a shift in mindset and not a lifestyle change,” said state executive councillor in charge of Tourism, Consumer Affairs and the Environment, Elizabeth Wong.

She said the 20 sen charge for every plastic bag given to customers tomorrow was not unfair as there was ample notice of the campaign after its launch on Dec 19.

The state government will review and evaluate the six-month long campaign’s effectiveness via feedback from participating retailers.

“There are now 20 companies involved. We are working on getting book shops and fast food outlets involved as well,” said Wong.

She said retail participation is currently voluntary but it may become part of local government licensing policy after six months.

“This means that companies that do not participate may not get their licences renewed,” she said.

“We are starting with Saturdays now and once the programme gets moving, it will be applied to more days in the week.”

She said the campaign was mooted based on suggestions from the public, including non-governmental organisations and youth groups. The state government will publicise the campaign together with retailers via newspaper advertisements and pamphlets.

Wong said it was not intended at banning plastic bags altogether but at reducing their usage. A total of 14 companies are participating in the campaign including AEON Jusco, 99 Speedmart, Parkson, Guardian Pharmacy, Ikea, The Store, 7Eleven, Carrefour, Giant, Watsons and shopping malls Sunway Pyramid and One Utama.

Carrefour marketing and communications director Low Ngai Yuen said the company started alerting consumers of the campaign after its launch last month.

It will be giving out recyclable bags worth RM100 to consumers with a big purchase load, while those who use recyclable bags will be rewarded with a small gift.

Tesco has also embarked on reward-based initiatives to encourage consumers to use recyclable bags or any other bags.

Especially since the dispute about the use of the term “Allah” by non-Muslims is a matter of religious concern, we should all heed the religious teachings of practising tolerance and respect toward all other religions.

We sincerely appeal to all quarters to remain calm and approach this issue in a wise and peaceful manner. In light of the emotional nature of this debate, all religious and political leaders, in particular, must act responsibly and not try to score points at the expense of another community.

Whilst we respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression, we believe that all parties concerned ought to exercise these freedoms responsibly and not use them to fuel religious or racial animosity, or hurt any community.

As Malaysians, we have lived together and share this country for a very long time. Although there some differences between the communities, it is time all of us came together with open hearts and minds to resolve whatever conflicts wisely and peacefully for the future of our beloved nation.

WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
President
Parti Keadilan Rakyat