KUALA LUMPUR – The government has imposed an immediate and total ban on the import of electronic waste, as it moves to tighten border controls and curb hazardous waste dumping that threatens public health and the environment.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki announced that the ban, which takes effect today, follows the reclassification of e-waste shipments under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. The measure was agreed at the second meeting of the Special Task Force on the Enforcement Management Roadmap for Plastic and E-Waste Imports.
Azam said strict and coordinated enforcement among relevant authorities is crucial to ensure the policy’s success and send a clear signal that Malaysia will no longer serve as a dumping ground for electronic waste.
“E-waste is no longer allowed to enter the country,” he said in a statement today.
The ban comes amid a series of high-profile investigations into illegal waste practices and suspected corruption linked to environmental enforcement. In late January, the MACC remanded senior officials from the Department of Environment, including its director-general and deputy director-general, over alleged abuse of power and corruption in the management of e-waste. A fourth individual was also remanded as part of the probe.
Last week, the MACC froze about RM1 million in bank accounts and seized RM170,000 in cash from suspects believed to be connected to the alleged failure of enforcement action against companies linked to illegal waste disposal activities.
Azam said enforcement agencies must act decisively and collectively to uphold the ruling and protect Malaysia’s environmental governance. The ban is expected to complement existing efforts to address the growing risks posed by improperly managed electronic waste and reinforce cross-agency cooperation at ports and checkpoints. – February 4, 2026