Dr M: 'Plastic bag' BN for past, 'reusable bag' Harapan for future

Brandishing two different bags – one plastic and the other reusable – Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a veiled call for Malaysians to confine the ruling coalition to the annals of history in the coming general election.

In a brief video clip posted on Twitter, the 93-year-old former premier weighed in on the recent promise by Selangor BN information chief Satim Diman that should it recapture the state, it would do away with the current ban on plastic and polystyrene packaging imposed by the PKR-led government.

“BN wants to reintroduce plastic bags and this will be bad for the future because of the amount of rubbish that will accumulate in this country.

“On the other hand, Pakatan Harapan wants you to use a disposable bag or reusable bag.

“So BN is for the past, (camera focuses on his right hand holding the plastic bag) dirtying the environment with plastic but Pakatan Harapan (camera focuses on his left hand with the reusable bag) is for the future, where bags like this will be reused again and again,” he added.

Plastic Bags vs Reusable Bags.

BN’s manifesto to reintroduce plastic bags in all shops by removing the RM0.20 charge will hurt Malaysia’s future.

This is a step backward for Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/KPi7BQKOZ7

— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) February 22, 2018

At present, consumers who insist on plastic bags while shopping for groceries are charged 20 sen per bag.

Satim's statement also drew criticism from DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng, who described it as the height of idiocy to offer free plastic bags amid the global effort to reduce plastic waste.

He also pointed out that it is not only the federal opposition-led Selangor and Penang which have such a ruling in place but also the BN-ruled Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, and Johor.

Speaking at a dialogue last week, Satim said the return of free plastic bags was part of the BN manifesto.

"This is part of the BN manifesto if BN gets back the Selangor government, no more payments for plastic bags. Do you want this?" he asked his audience.

Meanwhile, Selangor BN chief Noh Omar said that shops should pay consumers 20 sen if they bring their own bags.

"Businesses should give 20 sen to consumers who bring their own bags, and not charge those who don't bring one but want a plastic bag.

"This way, it will teach consumers about the dangers of plastic bags, which can pollute the environment," he added, saying BN would implement this if it wins the coming polls.- Mkini