Perak postpones its full ban on single-use plastic bags to March 2026, extending it to state parks, geoparks, and all fixed retail premises.
IPOH: The Perak state government has postponed its full ban on single-use plastic bags, moving the effective date from January 1 to March 1, 2026.
State Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said the ban will apply to permanent reserved forests, the Royal Belum State Park, and Pulau Sembilan State Park.
It will also cover geopark tourism attractions in Lenggong and the Kinta Valley.
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The prohibition will extend to all fixed premises, including supermarkets, convenience stores, fast-food outlets, and pharmacies.
Teh stated the two-month postponement is to give the public sufficient time to make necessary preparations.
“Royal Belum State Park and Pulau Sembilan State Park under the Perak State Parks Corporation, as well as the Kinta Valley and Lenggong Geoparks managed by the Lenggong Geopark authority, will be gazetted as plastic-bag-free zones to protect these valuable natural heritage assets,” he said in a statement.
He added that the Perak State Parks Corporation will enforce the ban through geo-guides at geological heritage sites.
Fixed premises under local authority jurisdiction include hypermarkets, shopping complexes, petrol station outlets, chain stores, and pharmacies.
The state government has also agreed to lead by example in implementing the policy.
Government departments and agencies are instructed to adopt plastic-avoidance practices at official functions.
These measures include replacing bottled drinks with glass bottles or water jugs.
They also involve substituting plastic food wraps with reusable covers and not providing single-use tableware.
The policy further avoids plastic straws and provides water dispensers for refills.
Perak’s ‘No Plastic Bag Campaign’ has been in place since 2022, enforced every Saturday.
Local authorities impose a 20 sen pollution charge for each plastic bag provided to consumers.
All 15 local authorities in Perak had fully implemented these charges by June 2023. – Bernama
