KUCHING: Sarawak will assume full regulatory authority over the environment with the passing of the Natural Resources and Environment Bill in the state legislature.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said environmental matters in Sarawak were currently governed by the federal Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the state Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance.
He said the federal and state governments reached an agreement in 2022 for regulatory authority on the environment to be transferred to Sarawak in phases.
This includes the delegation of authority on scheduled waste disposal to be finalised by Jan 1.
As such, he told the state assembly on Tuesday (Nov 12), the Bill was introduced to repeal the Ordinance and provide new legislation giving Sarawak full authority over resource conservation, environmental management, pollution control and sustainable development.
"These provisions are intended not only to safeguard Sarawak's natural assets but also to promote responsible development in alignment with global environmental standards.
"Hence, this new comprehensive law is timely to manage natural resources and environment, taking into consideration the latest development on environment and emerging environmental concerns," Awang Tengah said when tabling the Bill.
It was passed unanimously by the assembly.
Awang Tengah said a Natural Resources and Environment Board would be set up as a corporate body under the Bill to provide environmental oversight in Sarawak.
This would include determining the use of natural resources, issuing directives on environmental management practices, and setting environmental quality goals.
The Bill also includes provisions on scheduled waste management, environmental impact assessment and licensing of prescribed activities involving discharges or emissions.
Awang Tengah said provisions related to scheduled waste will be enforced once an order to facilitate the transfer of authority to Sarawak is made by next year.
"Other provisions relating to licensing for restricted and prohibited activities, prescribed conveyances, prescribed premises and similar matters are currently governed by the Environmental Quality Act.
"After this Bill is passed, Sarawak will have its own legislation and these matters will be managed under this law in phases," he said.
