PENANG has defended its landmark move to ban the use of single-use plastics by September this year as it positions itself as the state in fighting plastic pollution and littering.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the single-use plastic ban reflects the state’s sustained commitment to sustainability.
It is building on green initiatives introduced in earlier years.
"As such, its implementation has not affected hawkers and small traders if they know how to adjust well. We will guide and assist," said Chow.
The Batu Kawan Member of Parliament shared this during a walkabout, which is part of the ‘Jelajah CM’ series, at the Chai Leng Park Wet Market and its food court.
Also joining Chow was Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, the Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament.
According to Chow, in line with the vision and objectives of the state’s green agenda, if biodegradable alternatives to plastic bags become available, they can be implemented in wet markets and hawker centres.
“This single-use plastic ban initiative is a continuation of earlier campaigns, beginning with the ‘No Free Plastic Bag Day’, followed by the ‘No Free Plastic Bag Every Day’ campaign, and now the move towards eliminating single-use plastic bags.
“Throughout these campaigns, hawkers and small traders have been exempted, as the focus has primarily been on shopping malls, chain stores and other large retail outlets."
“Currently, this policy does not affect our hawkers and small traders,” said Chow, but he hopes that the trading community can also get on the bandwagon of reducing and discarding the use of single-use plastics eventually.
State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, who also accompanied Chow, highlighted ongoing efforts to develop alternatives to plastic bags that resemble conventional plastic but are biodegradable.
“We understand the need for bags that look and feel like plastic, yet are highly biodegradable, for use in wet markets and by hawkers. Our state will be the first to embark on this initiative. Today, we distributed approximately 1,200 reusable cloth bags to market-goers, hawkers and traders to promote greener practices, and they were well received."
“We hope that by September, this year, the state will be completely free of single-use plastic bags with the introduction of biodegradable, plastic-like alternatives,” Sundarajoo, who is also the Perai assemblyman, added. - April 5, 2026.
