By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 12: The proposed Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024, if passed, will end public confusion about environmental issues, which are currently managed by different agencies.
Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang noted that the Bill seeks to regulate scheduled wastes and environmental issues, which were previously under the Federal Government’s Department of Environment (DOE).
“Some of the environmental issues are under the Sarawak’s Natural Resources Environment Board (NREB) and Federal Government’s (DOE). This creates a lot of confusion to many people including the community.
“But with this new Bill, all matters related to environmental and natural resources will be under Sarawak authority and we will have full control of it,” he said when debating in support of the Bill in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
The NREB Sarawak was established on Feb 1, 1994 pursuant to Section 3(1) of the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, 1993 (Cap.84 under the Laws of Sarawak).
On the other hand, the DOE was initially established as the Environment Division under the Ministry of Local Government and Environment on April 15, 1975.
“The NREB is tasked with the responsibility of protecting and managing the environment and the conservation of the natural resources of Sarawak based on the principles of sustainable development.
“Similar tasks are also given to DOE in this perspective.
“Thus, the introduction of the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024 is crucial and important for Sarawak government in taking back the delegation of power from the Federal government,” Gira added.
In 2019, Sarawak regained authority from the Federal government to enact its own environmental laws, allowing NREB Sarawak to oversee environmental matters.
This change, formalised by the Natural Resources and Environment (Amendment) Bill 2019, enabled Sarawak to regulate practices like open burning in agriculture to meet local standards.
Now, five years later, the new 2024 Bill builds on this progress, further cementing Sarawak’s control over environmental and waste management, with full regulatory authority expected to transfer from the Federal’s DOE to NREB Sarawak by 2025. — DayakDaily
