BY ERMIZI MUHAMAD
SHAH ALAM, JUL 24: A total of RM1.87 million have been collected by businessmen throughout the state, from the RM0.20 cents charge for usage of plastic bag in Selangor.
Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco, Elizabeth Wong said, that amount is derived from the collection by businessmen who have sent their reports to the State Government, until last May.
“As of May, a total of RM1,871,547.55 have been collected by businessmen in the state, who have file their reports regarding the RM0.20 charge for plastic bag.
“Meanwhile, the revenue collected based on percentage are, 63.98 percent from supermarkets and 36.02 percent from food premises,” she said.
Wong also said, the State Government has spent RM148,000 for the campaign on the ban of plastic bag, since it was launched early last year.
She said, it involves cost of social media, multi-lingual posters, buntings and free bags as promotional items.
In the same development, the State Government encourages businessmen and business associations who charges for plastic bag to send reports to them.
“As at now, the State Government has no plan to penalise businessmen who did not register.
“However, for the long-term, those who fail to send their reports will face difficulties when renewing their licenses,” she said answering the verbal question posed by Kuala Kubu Baru Assemblyman, Lee Kee Hiong, during the fifth term of the 13th Selangor State Assembly.
Selangor introduced the ban on usage of plastic bag by charging RM0.20 for each bag as an initiative to educate the public to conserve the environment.
The collection is channeled to welfare bodies or consumerism as well as environmental programmes.
