By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 1: The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) is currently drafting subsidiary regulations as Sarawak gears up to assume full responsibility for environmental governance from the federal government, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the transition will be realised through the implementation of Article 95C of the Federal Constitution, which is expected to be tabled this December.
“With this amendment, Sarawak will be empowered to enact its own environmental laws.
“The suspension of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 under Article 95C will allow Sarawak to begin managing scheduled waste, marking the first step towards the full devolution of powers,” he explained during the closing of the Stakeholder Engagement Programme organised by NREB today.
As part of the State’s preparations, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) has already passed the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance 2024, which provides a strong foundation for the new enforcement functions.
“The move is part of Sarawak’s broader efforts to strengthen environmental governance, enhance transparency and ensure that development progresses in tandem with sustainability goals,” he added.
Beyond the autonomy issue, he also emphasised the need for collective responsibility among government agencies, consultants, developers and the community to ensure that Sarawak’s development remains aligned with the principles of sustainability. — DayakDaily
