KUCHING: Sarawak will not be exporting its rare earth resources, as the minerals hold high strategic value, and should instead be processed locally to produce value-added and high-impact products.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said rare earth compounds and minerals are essential for creating other advanced materials crucial to modern industries.
“We do have rare earth in Sarawak, but we will not export it because it is a vital resource for producing other important materials,” he said when officiating the Sarawak-level National Environment Day (HASN) 2025 celebration at Roxy Beach Resort, Sematan, today.
He said that the state government has already passed two key legislations in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), namely the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance, 2023, and the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, 2024, which serve as the framework for managing environmentally related sectors in Sarawak.
“We have the necessary regulations in place and are enforcing them. We must continue to monitor industrial and economic waste to safeguard the environment,” he added.
Abang Johari added that a new bill will be tabled at the next assembly sitting to regulate waste collection and promote cleaner environmental management.
“At present, there are no laws that grant the authority to collect waste – and waste can actually be turned into something valuable.
“Next month, we will introduce a law to better regulate waste collection within a proper legal and management framework. But this initiative must be implemented at a sufficient scale to generate economic value,” he explained.
The Premier said that discussions under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have led to an understanding with the federal government, granting Sarawak full authority over its environmental policies and management.
“We will have full authority to manage our environment, which is why it is crucial for us to establish an effective system to handle waste and turn it into something valuable,” he said.
“This is vital to ensure Sarawak remains clean while we manage all economic activities that impact the environment.”
