KUALA LUMPUR: The government aims to replace the Environmental Quality Act 1974 with a new Act, which would see greater enforcement powers as well as stiffer punishments meted out to those who pollute the environment.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the new act would focus on boosting enforcement action and legislative powers.
“If we look at the Sungai Kim Kim incident, we can see that the existing act is insufficient. This is because the act was formulated in 1974, when industry as well as housing and development were not at the pace it is now.
“Things have changed; we need a new act and we hope we can table it by the year-end.”
In early March, almost 6,000 Pasir Gudang residents were affected when illegal dumping of chemical substances into Sungai Kim Kim led to the release of toxic fumes.
Since then, three people have been charged at the Sessions Court. They were charged under Section 34B(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which carries a maximum of five years’ jail and a fine of not more than RM500,000 upon conviction.
Yeo said her ministry would conduct discussions with stakeholders, including other members of parliament in the second quarter of the year on the proposed act before seeking approval from the Attorney-General for it to be tabled in Parliament.
She said the government aimed to streamline the enforcement and legal processes to make it easier to punish those who commit crimes against the environment.
“We will also update the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process under the new Act,” she said, adding that with improved enforcement powers in the act, her ministry planned to set a 100 per cent prosecution rate target.
Meanwhile, on an unrelated matter, Yeo said the ministry would appoint a new director-general (enforcement) for the Johor Department of Environment soon.
She said the new director would be tasked with monitoring pollution cases not only in rivers in the southern state but also other environmental issues.
“We want the new director to manage and control the discharge of substances not only from licensed factories but illegal ones too.
“We will pick the best candidate and I give him two years to manage the situation in the state.
“He is also required to increase the assets, manpower and enforcement in the department and, hopefully, there will be changes when he takes over.
“But, I cannot announce this yet. He will take over the position soon,” she added.