BY ALEXANDRA LORNA & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: A new bill, the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024 will be tabled during the upcoming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
DUN Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar said the bill is among four governments bills to be tabled, the others being the Supply (2025) Bill 2024, Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill 2024 and Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill 2024.
“This new bill, the Natural Resources and Environment Bill will be moved by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. The background is that environment and waste are a federal matter.
“So by Jan 1, 2025, the Department of Environment will hand over the authority to regulate to the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB). The activities regarded as waste handed over to the state authority to manage will be metal and metal-bearing waste. For example, waste of batteries and electronic waste,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after the attending the pre-council meeting in conjunction with DUN sitting at PBB headquarters here on Saturday.
Asfia also said that with the new bill, there will be licensing of the prescribed activities, namely off-premises, conveyances, discharge of oil into Sarawak waters, pollution of atmosphere, noise pollution, pollution of soil and pollution of waters.
“Waste is anything no longer in use, often discarded on-site, leading to contamination of the air, soil, and water. When this happens, regulations classify it as waste, something that no longer generates profit.
“As a result, responsibility transfers from the federal Department of Environment to the state’s NREB and will be the one spending money to clean up and to manage the waste.
“Anyone can dispose of waste irresponsibly—whether dumping oil into the sea, rivers, or polluting water sources. To prevent this, we need laws in place to control such actions,” he explained.
Asfia earlier said that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will table the Supply (2025) Bill, —also known as the Budget speech—for its first and second readings on Nov 11, with the third reading scheduled for Nov 20.
“For the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill, 2024, it will be tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. The first reading will be on Nov 11, while the second and third reading will be on Nov 14.
“Utility and Telecommunication Minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, will present the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill, 2024, with the first, second, and third readings scheduled for Nov 11,” he said.
He also said that with the Distribution of Gas Bill, the government has decided that Sarawak will transition towards a green energy economy in fulfillment of its commitment to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Hydrogen is regarded as a clean energy for transportation and industrial application and usage. The government has promoted the production of hydrogen and is seeking foreign collaboration and investment in hydrogen generation projects in Sarawak,” said Asfia.
Asfia said the DUN will sit for eight days from Nov 11 to Nov 20.
“There are 350 questions, oral and written, received from 42 honourable members. The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication received the most, 61 questions,” he said.
