THE Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) has unanimously passed the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who tabled the Bill, emphasised its role in addressing environmental concerns while promoting economic growth.
“This Bill offers a comprehensive framework that strengthens environmental protection laws and promotes long-term socio-economic growth,” he said in his winding-up speech on the Bill today (Nov 12).
Awang Tengah highlighted the Bill’s contribution to combating climate change and environmental degradation.
“By instituting this stringent legislation, Sarawak positions itself as part of a global effort to protect the planet, aligning with international environmental standards and practices,” he said.
The Deputy Premier also underscored the Bill’s role in balancing economic development with environmental protection.
“The Bill provides Sarawak with the tools needed to minimize environmental degradation while encouraging economic development. Regulating emissions, waste, and pollution from industries ensures a cleaner, healthier environment for Sarawak’s citizens, fostering a better quality of life,” he said.
Furthermore, Awang Tengah said the Bill was aligned with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), granting Sarawak greater autonomy over its environmental governance.
“This Bill allows Sarawak to exercise full autonomy over its environmental governance, strengthening its ability to preserve its unique ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic and social development,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by assemblypersons, Awang Tengah assured that the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and other relevant agencies are committed to public engagement, transparency, and enforcement.
“The NREB and other relevant agencies are conducting and will continue with various awareness programs to increase environmental protection awareness, and there are also ongoing exercises to engage with the public on various platforms. And the government recognizes the importance of enforcement and assured the strengthening of enforcement through expertise, manpower, and adaptation of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data,” he added.
A total of 26 assemblypersons supported the Bill.
