KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will manage its own scheduled wastes, including toxic and ewastes, starting in January 2026, following the devolution of power from the federal to the state government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
This announcement was made by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 28).
"The Sabah government, through the Environment Protection Department Sabah, will take over the management of scheduled waste from the Federal Department of Environment, effective January 2026," she said.
"This move aligns with the devolution of power by the Federal Government to the Sabah government under the MA63 concerning the environment," she added.
Liew said this decision was agreed upon during the State Cabinet meeting on Aug 21, chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
She stated that several actions have already been initiated by the Environment Protection Department Sabah, including amending the Environment Protection Enactment 2002 and drafting subsidiary legislation related to scheduled waste.
They are also preparing a scheduled waste management plan for Sabah, developing an online scheduled waste monitoring system, and enhancing the capacity of the Environment Protection Department Sabah with full support from the Federal Department of Environment.
Liew emphasized that the devolution of power by the Federal Government to the state under the MA63 concerning the environment will be implemented in phases, starting with the management of scheduled wastes.
