Reports by TARRENCE TAN, RAHIMY RAHIM, RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM and BENJAMIN LEE
THE Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry is considering delegating enforcement powers under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to the police to strengthen the crackdown on e-waste smuggling and illegal operations.
Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) said empowering the police to take action against environmental crimes is among the proposals currently under review to enhance enforcement efforts.
He added that his ministry is also exploring other legal measures, including incorporating environmental crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001 and the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.
The ministry is further considering amendments to the Port Authorities Act 1963 (Act 488) and the Free Zones Regulations 1991 to take action against shipping agents who make false declarations.
Nik Nazmi was responding to Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) on actions taken by the ministry to curb the smuggling of e-waste into the country.
These proposed measures follow the recent Ops Hazard, which led to the seizure of 15,764.9 metric tonnes of e-waste worth an estimated RM55mil.
Of the 47 premises raided last month, Nik Nazmi revealed that 30 were operating illegally, seven were scrap goods facilities, six were licensed under the Environment Department, three were licensed by local authorities and one was an illegal warehouse.
“Most of them were operating illegally without a licence from the local authorities and were mostly run by foreign nationals employing undocumented migrants or workers misusing their work permits,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Nik Nazmi also revealed that 329 containers filled with e-waste had been intercepted at Malaysian ports in 2024 – 10 times more than the 32 detected in 2023.
Additionally, 11 such containers have been detained since February this year.
“This spike in containers identified and confiscated is due to better coordination with the Customs Department and non-governmental organisations like the Basel Action Network,” he said.
