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SARAWAK is moving closer to taking over scheduled waste management from the Federal Government following Cabinet approval of amendments to an order granting the state additional legislative powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had approved a memorandum from the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry on the Borneo States (Legislative Powers) (Amendment) Order 2026.
He said the amendment had received approval from the Attorney-General's Chambers and would next be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for royal assent.
Its completion is a key prerequisite for suspending the application of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) in Sarawak, enabling the state government to assume responsibility for managing scheduled waste.
Fahmi said the transfer would be carried out in stages, with scheduled waste management identified as the first area of responsibility to be devolved.
The move is intended to ensure a structured transfer of federal legislative powers while preventing overlapping jurisdiction between the Federal Government and Sarawak.
The initiative is part of the MADANI government's continuing efforts to implement MA63 commitments, particularly the devolution of federal legislative powers in environmental matters to Sabah and Sarawak.
The government said it remained committed to translating its MA63 obligations into concrete measures to strengthen federal-state relations and protect the interests of people in both states. - November 6, 2026
