KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has approved an amendment order that paves the way for Sarawak to assume legislative powers over scheduled waste management from the Federal Government.
The Borneo States (Legislative Powers) (Amendment) Order 2026 has been cleared by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and will be submitted for the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had agreed to a memorandum from the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry on the order.
“This decision reflects the commitment of the prime minister and the government to continue strengthening the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly in ensuring that the delegation of federal legislative powers to the Sarawak government can be carried out in an orderly and effective manner, in line with Article 95C of the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement today.
Fahmi said the amendment was an important step towards suspending the enforcement of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 in Sarawak.
This would allow scheduled waste management functions to be transferred to the state government in an orderly manner while avoiding overlapping jurisdiction between the Federal and state governments, he said.
He said the initiative was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to fulfil its commitments under MA63, particularly the delegation of federal legislative powers over environmental matters to the Sabah and Sarawak governments.
“The transfer of powers will be carried out in phases, with scheduled waste management as the initial phase,” he said.
“The Madani Government remains committed to ensuring that the MA63 implementation agenda is translated into concrete actions and decisions to strengthen Federal-state relations and safeguard the interests of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.”
In November 2024, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly passed the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024.
Sarawak Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister II and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had said that full authority over environmental management and pollution control would allow the state to set its own environmental quality goals.