The Cabinet has approved an amendment to an order that will allow federal legislative powers over environmental matters to be delegated to Sarawak.
Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was made after the Cabinet received a memorandum from the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry on amending the legislative powers order for the state. The order has been approved by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and will be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, for his consent.
Fahmi said the decision reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly in ensuring that federal legislative powers given to Sarawak are carried out in an orderly and effective manner, in line with Article 95C of the Federal Constitution.
He said the amendment is a first step before the enforcement of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 is suspended in Sarawak, allowing scheduled waste management functions to be handed over to the Sarawak government in phases while avoiding overlapping federal and state jurisdiction.
A bill to amend the act introduces a new subsection allowing the minister to suspend the operation of all or any of its provisions in different areas of the country.