Preserving our resources

Laws for wildlife, water and sustainability to be updated

KUALA LUMPUR: Existing laws will be reviewed with new ones on the cards to ensure natural resources are preserved, according to the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review.

Among them are strengthening measures to protect the Malayan Tiger, reviewing laws related to pollution in water sources, a new law to tackle climate change and the formation of a National Geology Disaster Centre.

On strengthening measures to protect the increasingly threatened Malayan Tiger, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this was to ensure the balance of the ecosystem while also preserving a sustainable environment.

“At the same time, enforcement efforts in handling wildlife crimes, expanding protected areas and empowering local communities will be strengthened.

“This is also to protect threatened wildlife such as elephants, orang utans, turtles, gaurs and tapirs,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when tabling the Mid-Term Review of the 12MP yesterday.

Acts related to the pollution of water sources and the water service industry will also be reviewed, he said.

Anwar said this would ensure perpetrators received a deserved penalty for their irresponsible acts, as it affects the food chain and health of surrounding communities.

Country gem: Protecting the Malayan Tiger was among the pledges made in the 12th MP Mid-Term Review.

“Efforts to clean water bodies also take time and are expensive.Hence, Acts related to pollution in water sources and the water service industry will be reviewed.

“These measures are taken to ensure sustainable resources and clean water services for the people,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government would also be initiating measures to reform the water industry model to be more sustainable and holistic.

“These measures will ensure clean and safe water supplies for all Malaysians in line with the Water Sector Transformation Agenda 2024,” he said.

The government, Anwar said, would also ease biomass hubs being built in tandem with access to funding.

On climate change, Anwar said a new law will be drafted as well.

“The framework will be prepared to hasten the transition to a circular economy.

“The government is also carrying out studies on the price of carbon to evaluate the country’s readiness to implement carbon taxes and carbon trading systems,” he said.

Anwar said the government will tackle floods and landslide disasters by setting up a National Geology Disaster Centre by the end of the year and reviewing the National Disaster Management Centre to improve response times to such incidents.