Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said other proposals include placing environmental crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001 and the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.

He said these proposed measures would grant authorities “stronger enforcement powers” to take action against offenders.

“We also want to blacklist companies that frequently violate the law, establish specific legislation for waste import management, amend the Port Act and Free Zone Regulations to allow action against shipping agents making false declarations, and ban waste imports from countries that have not ratified the Basel Convention.

“These actions align with our principle of prioritising domestic waste management, as we do not want to become the world’s dumping ground.

“For the record, between 2015 and 2023, Malaysia generated 764,453 tonnes of e-waste (electrical and electronic waste),” he said during minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Nik Nazmi was responding to Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu), who asked for clarification on the ministry’s measures to curb the smuggling of e-waste into the country following large-scale raids on illegal electronic waste processing factories in several states.

He said the raids involved inspections at 47 premises, leading to the seizure of 15,764 tonnes of e-waste, estimated to be worth RM55 million.

Nik Nazmi also highlighted challenges faced by enforcement officers in dealing with e-waste-related operations.

“Some of our officers received video calls from syndicate bosses showing videos of their children at school (as a form of intimidation). This shows how serious the e-waste issue is in Malaysia,” he said.

He said the ministry, in collaboration with enforcement agencies including the customs department, prevented 329 containers from entering the country last year.

Fifteen containers had been stopped as of February this year.