THE Sustainable Resources and Waste Management Bill 2025 aims to establish a dedicated authority to regulate, coordinate, and promote the management of sustainable resources and waste across the state.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the minister in charge of implementing and administering the bill will be the minister responsible for energy and environmental sustainability.
“The authority is empowered to regulate and oversee all activities related to sustainable
resources and wastes management in the State, including segregation, collection,
treatment, recycling, and disposal. This is provided for in Clause 7 and Part III of the
Bill.
“The authority may issue guidelines or directions, require reports, and approve related plans or projects to ensure effective management and compliance,” he said when tabling the Bill in the Dewan Undangan Negeri today.
In addition, he said Clause 8 of the Bill provides for the core functions of the authority which includes among others, formulating and implementing systems or mechanisms for sustainable resources and wastes management, coordinating with federal and state agencies, and recommending related policies to the minister.
“In carrying out these responsibilities, the authority also oversees planning and
coordination of all activities in this sector, develops management systems for various
industries, and undertakes efforts to educate and inform the public on sustainable
resources and wastes management matters,” he said.
Moreover, he said the authority is also responsible to promote investment, research,
innovation, and capacity building by engaging with potential investors and financiers to
advance sustainable initiatives across Sarawak.
He added that the Bill also introduces provisions on incentives, inter alia, to encourage investment by any person on sustainable resources and wastes management. This is provided for under Clause 8(e) of the Bill.
“Clause 22 further empowers the authority to give incentives or rewards to persons or
industries contributing to such efforts.
“All these shows that the Sarawak government is serious in encouraging all sectors to
participate in our effort to promote sustainable resources and wastes management throughout the state to advance Sarawak’s renewable energy and circular economy goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said Part IV of the Bill empowers the Authority to carry out enforcement activities, including the power of arrest and compound any person who has committed an offence under the Bill which further grants the authority the power to conduct searches and seizures, as well as to dispose of or forfeit goods in accordance with the provisions of the Bill.
Following this, he said Part V of this Bill among others introduces provisions on offences and penalties for non compliance with direction, notice or order, general penalty, as well as financial penalty.
“For non-compliance with direction, notice, or order issued by the authority or the chief
Executive officer under this Bill, is an offence and upon conviction, is liable to a fine of
a minimum amount of RM20,000 up to RM50,000 or imprisonment up to five years or to both,” he said.
Uggah said the Bill marks an important step in advancing Sarawak’s environmental sustainability,circular economy and energy transition, in line with Premier’s vision “Don’t Waste the Wastes — Monetise the Wastes”.
