Sabah and Sarawak are ready to assume legislative powers over scheduled waste management, with state-level laws being finalised following federal engagement.
KUALA LUMPUR: The governments of Sabah and Sarawak are prepared to be granted legislative authority for the management of scheduled waste under the newly passed Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh told the Dewan Negara that extensive engagement sessions since 2022 confirmed both states’ readiness to implement their respective action plans.
He stated that the bill’s passage represents a strategic move to strengthen Malaysia’s environmental legal framework in accordance with federalism, good governance, and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Several matters, including the enactment of complementary state-level laws, must be mutually agreed upon between the federal and state governments before the powers are fully devolved.
Sarawak has already passed its Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, which aims to provide better provisions for conservation, pollution control, and environmental management in the state.
In Sabah, the state government is finalising eight pieces of draft legislation through its Environmental Protection Department, with a target to table them in the State Legislative Assembly by November 2026.
Syed Ibrahim emphasised that the amendments are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the nation’s environmental management system remains responsive and resilient to future challenges.
The Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed by the Dewan Negara after a debate involving 17 senators.
