Malaysia will not allow the import of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) from foreign nations to safeguard public health and prevent environmental pollution, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Huang Tiong Sii said Thursday.
Huang stated that all 128 licensed facilities in the country are authorized solely to process e-waste produced within Malaysia.
“All 128 licensed facilities in the country are only allowed to process e-waste generated locally. Malaysia does not permit the importation of electrical and electronic waste for processing in the country. The ministry remains firm that Malaysia will not become a dumping ground for scheduled waste from abroad,” he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was replying to a query from Young Syefura Othman, who inquired whether the ministry had plans to increase the number of licensed processing facilities to manage imported electronic waste as part of efforts to combat smuggling activities that threaten the country.
Huang explained that e-waste contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which require careful treatment and disposal to safeguard both the environment and public health. The ministry maintains its firm stance that Malaysia will not turn into a dumping ground for waste originating from other countries.
According to official data, Malaysian authorities seized 106 shipping containers filled with e-waste between March and June of last year. The country has experienced a significant surge in illegal e-waste imports in recent years.
The government previously issued new regulations to halt all imports of scrap plastic originating from the United States, including e-plastics from electronics. In July, the country implemented tighter controls on plastic waste imports, prohibiting shipments from nations that are not signatories to the Basel Convention, the international treaty governing transboundary movements of hazardous waste.
MOST POPULAR | Gold Prices Cross $4,000 as Investors Seek Safety in Market Uncertainty
