Why Malaysia must continue to crackdown on illegal e-waste recycling operations

General Operations Force Northern Brigade Commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim (centre) and his officers examining an illegal e-waste processing operation in Kanthan, Perak, that was raided on Feb 15, 2025, with the Perak Environment Department. — Bernama

THE Basel Action Network (BAN) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are deeply concerned about criticism that has been levied against the Malaysian government over its courageous crackdown on illegal e-waste recycling operations that have been springing up throughout the country.

We must be clear: These illegal operations are run by criminal syndicates looking to reap quick and maximum profits, extracting copper, gold, and other valuable materials from the scrap, exploiting the most low-cost and vulnerable labour force (often undocumented migrant workers), avoiding any form of pollution control costs, and then illegally dumping the toxic residual material at the lowest cost.