KUALA LUMPUR: The government is reviewing the compounds and penalties under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to curb the rampant pollution activities by irresponsible quarters in Malaysia, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
Following increasing reports of water pollution in the country, Muhyiddin said the government was committed to ensuring that Malaysians get to enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment.
While 2020 and the first Movement Control Order (MCO), which was implemented last year, provided some relief to the environment where Malaysians experienced clearer skies and cleaner air, Muhyiddin said this was not sufficient.
"The challenges of the global lockdowns have given respite to the environment when industrial activities were reduced, but at the same time, new norms had added a new set of environmental issues in the form of indiscriminate disposal of face masks and the heavy use of plastic for takeaways."
He said the challenge now was for to restore economic activities without reactivating environmental degradation.
"Unfortunately, 2020 also went down as the year with frequent water disruptions, which affected households and businesses, especially in the Klang Valley due to irresponsible acts by some quarters who illegally disposed their industrial wastes into rivers.
"Towards this, the government is reviewing the compounds and penalties under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 so that stern action can be taken against offenders," he said in his speech during the Prime Minister's Hibiscus Award (PMHA) 2019/2020 ceremony held virtually on PMHA's Facebook page today.
The government had, as part of its effort to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment, provided allocations in its 2021 Budget under the fourth strategy of Ensuring Resource Sustainability, aimed at influencing environmental decisions positively.
This is also in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Among others, RM20 million is allocated under the Malaysia-SDG Trust Fund with the aim to systematically coordinate financing from public and private institutions in ensuring the SDG is achieved by 2030.
Muhyiddin said the government was also supporting bipartisan cooperation to localise SDG programmes, with a RM5 million allocated to All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on SDGs.
In August 2020, Muhyiddin said the government issued its first digital sukuk, Sukuk Prihatin, where the subscription had exceeded its target of RM666 million.
"In 2021, the government will be issuing its first Sustainability Bond for environmental and social initiatives.
"In addition, the income tax exemption for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) green sukuk grant is extended until 2025 to encourage the issuance of SRI products and bonds.
He said the government would also continue the Green Technology Financing Scheme 3.0 with a fund allocation of RM2 billion for two years, until 2022.
"This serves as a great opportunity especially for companies that plan to invest in green technology."
Moving forward, the Prime Minister stressed that industrialisation in Malaysia needed to be environmental-friendly by adopting sustainable consumption and production approach.
Muhyiddin pointed out that in order to improve and facilitate sustainable living, a concerted effort by the government, industry players, academicians and the public was vital.
"The government recognises the need to sustain continuous narratives of environmental sustainability and is pleased to support the activities of PMHA.
"I believe PMHA will continue to encourage other industries to step forward to gain greater exposure and learn from leaders in the field on the best sustainability practices."