KUALA LUMPUR: The government will stop granting blanket exemptions under the Clean Air Regulations to industrial players, with most existing waivers set to expire by January next year, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.
Under the tighter enforcement stance, industries seeking extra time will only receive temporary extensions if they can prove they have already taken concrete steps toward installing emission-control technologies.
“One of the things that I’ve decided to do is that I will not be renewing any more exemptions to the Clean Air Regulations,” Arthur told reporters during the Concorde Club forum on Monday (Oct 5).
The session, chaired by Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, centred on the theme “Haze, Heat & Hope.”
Arthur explained that while the regulations establish strict limits on industrial emissions, including a ceiling of 600mg per cubic metre on plant and factory output, several industries have repeatedly received exemptions over the years.
“When I came in as minister, I decided I would not issue any more exemptions because the technology is now both available and accessible,” he said, noting that strict enforcement is essential as Malaysia works toward its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
While acknowledging that factories need time to conduct feasibility studies and make structural upgrades, Arthur stressed that lenient extensions are over.
"I will only grant exemptions to those that have shown steps to implement the technology," he said, adding that all affected industries without exception must achieve 100% compliance by 2030 at the absolute latest.
