NORTHEN STATE DECLARES MONDAYS "NO PLASTIC DAY"

PENANG (Malaysia), June 5 (Bernama) -- The northern-state Penang government has declared every Monday as a "No Plastic Day" for the state beginning July 1.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Friday the ban by the state government on
using plastic bags marked its serious commitment to achieving its goal of
becoming a green state.

"Following consultation and dialogues with hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini
markets, plastic manufacturer and NGOs, the ban on using plastic bags marks the
serious commitment towards reducing the use of plastic bags," he told a news
conference here.

He said that to encourage consumers to bring their own bags and reduce their
dependency on the plastic bags, consumers would be charged 20 cents per bag on
the "No Plastic Bag Day".

The proceeds would be donated for the state Hardcore Poverty Programme.

Lim said a survey conducted by the state government on six major groups of
supermarkets and hypermarkets showed that as much as 25.2 million plastic bags
were distributed in 2008.

-- BERNAMA