Sarawak is tightening environmental governance while stepping up workforce development in the timber sector, with stricter Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) evaluations and expanded industry-led compliance measures now underway.
Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state government remains committed to ensuring sustainable development through stronger environmental monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
“The two-tier EIA evaluation process, which began on Jan 2 this year, comprises a first-level evaluation through the Internal EIA Technical Evaluation Committee (EIATEC) and a second-level evaluation through the Review Panel Meeting (RPM).
He said this in his ministerial winding-up speech today.
Awang Tengah said that from January to April 2026, a total of 12 EIA reports were evaluated, with eight approved and four rejected.
He added that 11 new EIA reports had also been received and were currently undergoing various stages of assessment.
During the same period, Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) conducted 372 post-EIA monitoring activities and received 1,287 Environmental Monitoring Reports (EMR).
He said 40 non-compliance cases were detected and notices issued, while 58 investigation papers were opened, including cases carried forward from previous years.
“In addition, eight compounds amounting to RM60,000 were issued as of April 30, 2026,” he said.
On environmental self-regulation, Awang Tengah said Sarawak had strengthened environmental governance through the implementation of the Environmental Compliance Audit (ECA) under the Natural Resources and Environment (Audit) Rules 2008, beginning with the forestry sector in July 2025.
He said the initiative promotes industry accountability through self-regulation involving competent auditors registered under NREB.
“As of April 2026, a total of 308 auditors has been registered, reflecting increased capacity for ECA implementation across Sarawak,” he said.
The ECA programme will be expanded mandatorily to the agriculture, quarry and mining sectors beginning 2027.
As preparation, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed on Feb 25 this year with 12 agriculture companies and two quarry and mining companies as pilot projects.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) would continue organising training programmes to strengthen workforce skills in the timber industry.
As of April 2026, STIDC had organised four courses related to wood product manufacturing, the bamboo industry and grading, attended by 62 participants.
STIDC also held industry updates and dialogue sessions on procedures for recruiting non-Sarawakian workers in the manufacturing and services sectors in collaboration with the Immigration and Labour Management Unit (ILMU), Department of the Premier of Sarawak.
The sessions, held in Bintulu and Kuching on April 16 and 23 respectively, attracted 404 participants.
