Today, the Dewan Rakyat approved the Second Reading of the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2023, signaling the government’s commitment to addressing environmental pollution crises in Malaysia. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability (NRES) has emphasised the urgency of tackling pollution that threatens the environment, public well-being, and economic stability.
The proposed amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 [Act 127] aim to strengthen environmental governance and enforcement by enhancing penalties and fines for environmental offenses. Key amendments include increasing the minimum fine to RM5,000, setting a maximum fine of RM10 million, and imposing mandatory imprisonment of up to 5 years for serious violations. Additionally, compound rates have been raised to not exceed 50% of the maximum fine.
The bill targets offenses such as water pollution, oil waste contamination, and illegal disposal of scheduled waste, imposing hefty fines and prison sentences to deter environmental crimes. The Ministry asserts that these amendments will bolster enforcement efforts, prevent pollution, and promote environmental conservation.
The decision to increase fines underscores the government’s determination to combat environmental pollution and protect Malaysia’s natural resources.
Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to finalising the bill, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility in environmental preservation.
“The Ministry is confident that these amendments to the act can strengthen enforcement, prevent environmental pollution and crimes from recurring, while educating industries and the public to collectively preserve the environment.
The firmness through the increase in fines signals the government’s seriousness in combating environmental pollution and crimes in Malaysia.
The Ministry is committed to finalising this bill as one of the efforts to strengthen the aspects of environmental conservation and preservation, which are shared responsibilities,” Nik Nazmi said.
In the next phase, the focus will shift to substantive issues of environmental governance, including mechanisms for self-regulation, promotion of green industry practices, and the requirement for Sustainability Reports by industrial premises.
