KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is tightening regulations on the cross-border movement of electronic waste (e-waste) and ramping up enforcement to ensure transparency and integrity in environmental law enforcement.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), through the Environment Department (DoE), has pledged to strictly regulate e-waste imports and exports. This includes ensuring compliance with the Basel Convention and adherence to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.
“Malaysia does not allow the importation of hazardous waste or scheduled waste for recovery purposes,” the ministry said in a parliamentary reply to Datuk Alias Razak (Kuala Nerus-PN).
“E-waste management and disposal are conducted at licensed recovery facilities regulated under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and its subsidiary regulations.”
To curb illegal e-waste disposal, the DoE is intensifying enforcement through regular inspections, compliance audits, and strict penalties. Under the amended Environmental Quality Act 1974, offenders involved in illegal disposal or processing of e-waste face mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to RM10 million.
A recent crackdown underscores these enforcement efforts. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), in collaboration with the DoE and the Immigration Department, arrested 16 individuals – including company owners – for allegedly bribing enforcement officers to facilitate illegal e-waste processing and disposal.
Recent raids on 12 factories in Selangor and Johor revealed unlawful handling of fibreglass, plastic, iron, and metal waste. The arrests, following a three-month investigation, led to authorities seizing RM3.8 billion worth of illegal e-waste operations between January 2024 and February 2025.
Additionally, the ministry is investing in continuous training and capacity-building for DoE officers.
“Ongoing technical training and integrity strengthening of enforcement officers are crucial to ensure responsible, transparent, and effective environmental law enforcement,” it said.
E-waste, classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention and Malaysia’s Scheduled Waste Regulations, poses significant environmental risks if not managed properly. – February 27, 2025