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MALAYSIA has reaffirmed its strong position on controlling the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste at the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs), held from April 28 to May 9 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia’s participation in the BRS COPs underscores the country’s longstanding position on the regulation of hazardous waste and chemicals.
“As a developing nation, Malaysia has consistently been active and vocal in voicing its position at the negotiation table, particularly on the control of hazardous waste and chemical imports into the country,” he said in a statement today.
He added that the current session marked a milestone for Malaysia, as it served as the first occasion for the country to represent the collective stance of ASEAN member states. “This meeting also served as the first platform for Malaysia to represent ASEAN’s voice – that ASEAN is not the world’s dumping ground for toxic, problematic, or hard-to-recycle waste,” he stressed.
The BRS Conventions are three major multilateral environmental agreements: the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste; the Rotterdam Convention, which governs international trade in hazardous chemicals; and the Stockholm Convention, which targets the elimination or restriction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Nik Nazmi said he held discussions with various counterparts on the environmental and public health risks posed by poorly regulated hazardous waste and chemicals, especially in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss.
He also engaged in bilateral talks with Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Abdullah Abdulaziz Turki Al Subaie, where both sides explored the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding on environmental protection and climate cooperation.
“I also held a brief meeting with representatives of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty and the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, to discuss ways to finalise and implement the Global Plastics Treaty in a fair, effective, and practical manner,” he added.
Nik Nazmi added Malaysia’s partnership with the Basel Action Network (BAN) and its commitment to tackling illegal shipments of e-waste and plastic waste, particularly from developed nations.
“My discussion with BAN executive director and founder Jim Puckett focused on Malaysia’s efforts to intercept and return illegal waste shipments, and the importance of cooperation in information sharing and regional enforcement,” he said.
He concluded by emphasising the importance of Malaysia maintaining a strong international presence in negotiations on environmental issues.
“Such commitments ensure that Malaysia remains focused on key negotiation issues and continues to stay on the right path in protecting both human well-being and the environment,” he said. - May 2, 2025