TAWAU: The Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) has rolled out the “No Kompek” campaign in preparation for the single-use plastic bag ban taking effect on Jan 1, 2026, across all local authorities in Sabah.
MPT President Joseph Pang said the term “kompek”, a local word for plastic, was chosen to make the campaign more relatable to the community.
“Kompek is a colloquial term commonly used here to refer to plastic,” he said during the campaign launch at Bataras Supermarket on Saturday, noting that this approach encourages greater public participation.
Tawau alone generates an average of 200 tonnes of waste daily, with 20–25 per cent consisting of plastic, Pang said.
“Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose, contaminating rivers and seas while harming marine life. Microplastics have even entered the human food chain,” he added.
Pang stressed that “No Kompek” is not just a slogan but a community movement for environmental sustainability.
“We want parents, children, traders, and customers to bring their own bags and reject single-use plastics. Let’s make green practices part of our lifestyle,” he said.
He also noted that while legal measures exist against violators of the ban, MPT hopes the community’s voluntary support will make enforcement unnecessary.
