KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is working hard to ensure that it would be fully prepared to manage its own scheduled wastes, including e-waste, by the end of this year.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin (pic) said among the most vital preparations were ensuring that nine criteria were fulfilled, including legislation, technical infrastructure, an online reporting system and human resources capacity.
He said all levels of government agencies and other supporting entities must be fully prepared before the dissolution of powers is complete in November.
He said this after paying a courtesy call on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Kurup in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Feb 24).
“This meeting with the minister is to discuss issues pertaining to Article 95C of the Federal Constitution regarding scheduled waste management in Sabah,” said Jafry in a statement.
He said the meeting was among others, aimed at stressing Sabah’s commitment in ensuring that the state has full power over the management and enforcement of laws regarding environment according to local requirements, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said the solid synergy between the ministry, Sabah government and the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry places Sabah in a stronger and better position to strengthen environmental management.
Jafry said this has to be done sustainably, efficiently, and resiliently, while bringing another strategic success for the betterment of the people of Sabah.
In Auguest 2024, then minister Datuk Christina Liew announced that Sabah would manage its own scheduled wastes, including toxic and e-wastes, starting January 2026.
This follows the devolution of power from the federal to the state government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), she had said.
She said the state, through the Environment Protection Department Sabah, will take over the management of scheduled waste from the Federal Department of Environment.
