Umno Youth wants the federal governments 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.