Cabinet approves a key step for Sarawak’s environmental autonomy, transferring scheduled waste powers under MA63 pending royal consent
KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has agreed to a memorandum on amendments to the Borneo States (Legislative Powers) Order for Sarawak, paving the way for the transfer of scheduled waste management powers to the state government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
MADANI Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the memorandum, submitted by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), was agreed upon at today’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the proposed amendments had received clearance from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and would next be submitted for royal consent from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
“This decision reflects the Prime Minister’s and MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of MA63, particularly by ensuring that federal legislative powers are conferred on the Sarawak government in an orderly and effective manner, in accordance with Article 95C of the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement today.
Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, said the amendment was a crucial step before the application of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) is suspended in Sarawak to enable the state government to assume responsibility for scheduled waste management.
The move, he said, would also prevent overlapping jurisdiction between the federal and Sarawak governments.
Fahmi also said the transfer of federal legislative powers in environmental matters to Sabah and Sarawak would be implemented in phases, beginning with scheduled waste management, he added.
“The MADANI Government remains committed to translating the MA63 agenda into concrete actions and decisions to strengthen federal-state relations and safeguard the interests of the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
