The Sin Chew Daily reported that the unnamed tourist had alleged on Facebook that staff at a shop charged him RM25 for a plastic bag to carry a bottle of liquor he had bought.

“This bag is even more expensive than my drink,” the tourist remarked online.

When contacted by the Chinese daily, Langkawi Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Lee Han Eng said it was impossible for businesses there to charge RM25 for a plastic bag.

“Traders do not charge customers a fee for a plastic bag,” he was quoted as saying.

Lee added that his group would investigate the authenticity of the Facebook post before commenting further.

The daily also asked traders from Pulau Tioman, another tourist destination in the country, if they charged customers for plastic bags.

When contacted, business owners from the food and beverages, and tourism sectors, as well as duty free shops denied charging customers for plastic bags.