PUTRAJAYA: The Government wants to make it compulsory for developers with a
development area of 20ha and more to conduct an environmental impact
assessment (EIA).
Developers with less than 20ha but have several parcels of land nearby for
future projects have to submit a macro EIA report.
Currently, only developers with projects spanning more than 50ha are
required to carry out an EIA.
Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Suboh
Mohd Yassin said the Environmental Quality Act 1974 was in the process of
being amended to make way for the two new regulations.
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers is looking into this. We are targeting for
the law to be enforced this year to get more developers to be responsible
and aware of how their project can affect the environment,” he said after
attending his ministry’s excellence awards presentation yesterday.
Suboh said developers must realise the importance of the EIA not only for
the safety of the environment but also that of their projects.
He said guidelines and rules were already in place for developers to follow,
especially when carrying out hillside and highland development.
Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid called on the staff to give priority to and
act fast on public complaints.
He warned them not to “sweep problems under the carpet.”
