In the Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan released today, Putrajaya said it would embark on a green growth initiative aimed at safeguarding the environment, reducing greenhouse gases and driving a “low-carbon and resource-efficient” economy.
It will also take measures to bolster against climate change in line with international treaties.
The government admits that the current system of environmental governance is fragmented, lacks coordination and is hampered by “incoherent” policies.
It said the chief federal law on the environment, Environmental Quality Act 1974, would be replaced with a newer Environment Protection Act (EPA), with a more encompassing law to “safeguard mother nature”.
Penalties for those who flout the laws will also be reviewed so as to be a better deterrent.
Environment-related agencies will be trained to be more competent in terms of technical expertise in environment-related areas.
These areas would include climate and water resource modelling and forecasting; disaster risk management; sustainable natural resource management; environmental assessment; and spatial information of water catchments and river systems, the report said.
The government pledges to intensify enforcement efforts and ensure cross-agency cooperation, too.
Also, the government wants to rope in the public so that they have a sense of shared responsibility for their environment. It also plans to engage civil society more vigorously.
In addition, the government intends to communicate better to the public about environmental planning and governance.
“A greater involvement of the private sector, academia, civil society and local communities will lead to better decision-making and increased support for effective project implementation.
“Collaborative efforts in monitoring and reporting detrimental activities on the environment will be undertaken more efficiently and effectively.”
Industries would be also encouraged to self-regulate through guidance by the government on matters such as noise and land pollution, apart from the existing air, water and hazardous waste pollution, to ensure wider compliance with environmental standards.
“The green growth initiatives will be intensified to safeguard natural endowment for present and future generations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental quality for better wellbeing.
“Despite various initiatives undertaken during the review period, there are issues and challenges that still need to be addressed,” it said.