Umno Youth wants the federal government to compel hypermarkets to give out non-plastic bags for free, so consumers will not be burdened by the policy to ban plastic bags.

"I believe the federal government should pressure hypermarkets to provide alternative bags for free to ease public burdens," Umno Youth executive council member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah said.

Otherwise, he said, hypermarkets will use the move to charge 20 sen per plastic bag for profit, and not for corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects as encouraged.

"I believe hypermarkets are taking advantage of consumers... Isn't providing free (non-plastic) bags to consumers a form of CSR for the hypermarkets?" he asked in a statement.

He urged the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry to discuss a public-friendly solution with hypermarkets.

The total ban on plastic bags was introduced in Penang in 2011, Malacca in 2016 and in Selangor and the Federal Territories on Jan 1 this year.

In Penang, Federal Territories and Selangor, retailers charge 20 sen per bag for those who do not bring their own bags during shopping.

The Selangor government said the state did not audit what happened to the 20 sen per bag collected, but retailers were encouraged to use it for corporate social responsibility projects.

The roll-out of the policy in Selangor and the Federal Territories had attracted much flak.

Following this, Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali yesterday instructed executive council member in charge of environment, tourism and consumer affairs to clarify the policy to the public.

Meanwhile, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) urged retailers to provide paper bags or degradable plastic bags.

He also urged the government to educate the public on the availability of degradable plastic bags.

"We must use degradable plastic bags that cost only RM0.10 per bag. I agree with the charge if supermarkets prepare degradable plastic bags, but they don't prepare such bags and we are forced to buy (the non-degradable bags)," he told reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur. 

Nadzim said traders should not profit from the policy which was aimed at protecting the environment.

“(The government says) the money is for the maintenance of the environment. What kind of maintenance, we don’t know. If it is done then, where are the reports?” asked Nadzim.

He also urged Selangor to strengthen enforcement of the polystyrene ban which also came into force on Jan 1. 

Additional reporting by Anne Muhammad