KUCHING: While Sarawak may enact more environment-related laws to provide further protection for the environment, creating awareness about environmental protection is also of crucial importance.
In stating this, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said, “Sooner or later, laws will be needed to protect the environment. Sarawak is leading the way in environmental preservation, with initiatives such as carbon credit and renewable energy. Renewable energy is prioritised because it is clean and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.”
He added, “In Sarawak, during the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), plastic bottles are not allowed. Therefore, this is a gradual process, and there will come a time when the law needs to be enacted to ensure environmental protection.”
Speaking to reporters after attending the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali’s Hari Raya open house at Wisma Sabati, Abdul Karim emphasised that educating the public about environmental preservation is crucial, in addition to introducing laws.
He cited the example of how people used to discharge waste into the river in the past, but now there is greater awareness about environmental preservation.
Thus, the Ministry of Health, Health Department, and other agencies will continue to raise awareness, and laws will be implemented along the way.
He also highlighted that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be carried out for development projects that involve more than 20 acres to ensure that the environment is being protected.
