Share:

Print

9 July 2024

Act A1712: Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 comes into operation on 7 July 2024.
This is an Act to amend the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

The amendments to the Environmental Quality Act introduce significant changes to penalties for various violations. For breaches of terms and conditions of licenses, the fines are increased from a maximum of RM25,000 to a range of RM25,000 to RM250,000, and the maximum imprisonment term is extended from two to five years. Similar adjustments apply to prescribed premises and conveyances, soil pollution, pollution of the atmosphere, and noise pollution, with increased fines and longer imprisonment terms.

Notable amendments also include hefty fines for more severe offences like pollution of inland waters and discharge of oil or hazardous substances into Malaysian waters, with fines ranging from RM50,000 to RM10 million and mandatory imprisonment up to five years. For environmental impact assessment reports and dealing with scheduled wastes, the Bill enforces mandatory imprisonment up to five years and fines up to RM10 million, emphasizing stricter compliance and heavier penalties for environmental violations.


Click here for the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024.