Chapter 1

(BFC32403)

ENVIRONMENTAL RULES,
REGULATIONS AND
STANDARDS

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND

REGULATION IN MALAYSIA
Managed

by DOE

Concept of the National Policy Of The Environment

2

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
MALAYSIA

Department of Environment (DOE) was originally created as

Environment Division under the Ministry of Local Government
and Environment on 15 April 1975.
Environment Division was then placed under the Ministry of
Science, Technology and Environment in March 1976.
Based on the importance of environmental protection and
conservation, on 1 September 1983, the Environment Division
has been upgraded to a Department known as the Department
of Environment.
On March 2004, DOE was then placed under the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
MALAYSIA
The

establishment of Department of
Environment is based on the Environmental
Quality Act, 1974 which was enacted in
March 1974 and came into force on 15 April
1975.

The

main function of the DOE is to prevent,

eliminate, control pollution and improve the
environment, consistent with the purposes of
the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the
regulations thereunder.
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MALAYSIAN POLICY ON THE

ENVIRONMENT
The Aims:
The National Policy on the Environment aims at continued
economic, social, and cultural progress of Malaysia and
enhancement of the quality of life of its people, through
environmentally sound and sustainable development.
The Objectives are to achieve :
1.

A clean, safe, healthy and productive environment for present

and future generations

2.

Conservation of the countrys unique and diverse cultural and

natural heritage with effective participation by all sectors of
society

3.

Sustainable lifestyles and patterns of consumption and

production
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MALAYSIA POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The National Policy on the environment is based on 8
principles that harmonies economic development goals
with environmental imperatives. These interrelated and
mutually supporting principles are:
1.

Stewardship of the Environment

Exercise respect and care for the environment in
accordance with the highest moral and ethical
standards.

2.

Conservation of Natures Vitality and Diversity

Conserve natural ecosystems to ensure integrity of
biodiversity and life support systems.
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MALAYSIA POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

3.

Continuous Improvement in the Quality of the

Environment
Ensure continuous improvement in the productivity and
quality of the environment while pursuing economic
growth and human development objectives.

4.

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Manage natural resource utilization to sustain the
resource base and prevent degradation of the
environment.

5.

Integrated Decision-Making
Integrate environmental dimensions in the planning
and implementation of the policies, objective and
mandates of all sectors to protect the environment.
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MALAYSIA POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

6.

Role of Private Sector

Strengthen the role of the private sector in environmental
protection and management.

7.

Commitment and Accountability

Ensure the highest commitment to environmental protection
and accountability by all decision-makers in the public and
private sectors, resource users, non-Governmental
organizations and the general public, in formulating, planning
and implementing their activities

8.

Active participation in the International Community

Participate actively and effectively in regional and global
efforts towards environmental conservations and
enhancement.
Important link:
http://
www.nre.gov.my/English/Environment/Pages/environment.asp
8
x
and http://www.doe.gov.my/portal/

MALAYSIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

The regulatory and legal framework

governing environmental issues is set out
in the Environmental Quality Act 1974,
commonly referred to as the EQA.
The EQA establishes the Director-General
of Environmental Quality who heads the
DOE and the Environmental Quality
Council comprising Government and
industry representatives.
The EQA is designed for the prevention,
abatement, control of pollution and
enhancement of the environment.
9

MALAYSIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

To date, Minister has promulgated thirteen sets
of environmental regulations, governing specific
industries, such as the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8.

Licensing regulations
Clean Air regulations
Compounding of Offence rules
Sewage and Industrial Effluents regulations
Motor Vehicle Noise regulations
Environmental Impact Assessment List of
Prescribed Activities
Three sets of regulations pertaining to
generation, treatment and disposal of Scheduled
Wastes
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Control of Smoke and Gas Emission rules

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT (DOE)
The

function of DOE is to administer

and enforce the EQA 1974 and
Section IV of the Economic Exclusive
Zone Act, 1984.

One

of the DOEs main objectives is to

preserve a healthy, clean and safe
environment for the present and future
generations.
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MALAYSIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

Malaysia has many agencies and laws that are responsible for the
control of traffic on toxic and dangerous products and wastes. These
include :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Petroleum Development Act 1974

Petroleum Mining Act 1966
Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984
Dangerous Trade Enactment
Poisons Act 1955
Poisons (Agricultural and Industrial) Ordinance
Pesticides Act 1974
Explosives Act 1975
The Technical Instruction for Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by
Air
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National Water Services

Commission Act 2006 (Act 654)

The National Water Services Act 2006 or the

Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Act
2006 which came into effect on 1 February
2007 is enforced by the Ministry of Energy,
Water and Communication.

This Act was enforced to establish a body

known as the Suruhanjaya Perkihdmatan Air
Negara (SPAN), or the National Water
Services Commission to regulate and
enforce the provisions of the Water Industry
Services Act 2006 (Act 655) known as WSIA.
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National Water Services

Commission Act 2006 (Act 654)

The Commission, which is fully functional

since 1 January 2008, is a central regulatory
agency to oversee adequate, clean and
healthy water supply including the treated
water supply.

The Commission shall have all the functions

conferred on it under the water supply and
sewerage services laws and shall also have
the following functions:

14

National Water Services

Commission Act 2006 (Act 654)

to implement and enforce the water supply and

sewerage services laws and to recommend reforms
to the water supply and sewerage services laws;

to ensure the productivity of the water supply and

sewerage services industry and the monitoring of
operators compliance with stipulated services
standards, contractual obligations and relevant
laws and guidelines;

to ensure national development goals pertaining to

coverage, supply and access to water supply
services and sewerage services are achieved;
15

The Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA) (Act 655)

The Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA)

which came into force on 1 January 2008 is a
federal law and enacted to regulate water supply
services and sewerage service industry.

The WSIA is enacted for the following objectives:

to

ensure uniformity of law and policy to make

a law for the proper control and regulation of
water supply services throughout Peninsular
Malaysia and the Federal Territories of
Putrajaya and Labuan;

maya@kuittho.edu.my, copyright 2007

16

Three main subsidiary legislation have

been introduces in this Act;
Water

Services Industry (Licensing)

Regulations 2007) prescribes all
matters relating to the issuance of
individual licenses and registration of
class licenses granted under WSIA.

Water

Services Industry (Permit)

Rules2007 issues rules on all matters
relating to the issuance of permits
granted under WSIA.

Water

Services Industry (Licensing)

(Exemption) Order 2007 exempts a
person from individual or class licensing
requirement, by order of the Minister.

maya@kuittho.edu.my, copyright 2007

17

1. AIR POLLUTION STANDARD

The air quality standards

are set by Department
of Environment Malaysia
(DOE) with reference of
the United States
Environmental
Protection Agency (US
EPA).

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Recommended Malaysian Air Quality Standards

(At 25 degree Celsius and 101.13 kPa)

AIR POLLUTION STANDARD

Table 1.1 : Air Pollution Standards (Malaysia)

Pollutant
Ozone
(O3)
Carbon Monoxide
(CO)#
Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2)
Sulphur Dioxide
(SO2)

Particles TSP
Particulate Matter (PM10)
Lead

Malaysia Guideline

Averaging
Time

(ppm)

(g/m3)

1 Hour

0.10

200

8 Hour

0.06

120

1 Hour

30

35 mg/m3

8 Hour

10 mg/m3

1 Hour

0.17

320

10 Minute

0.19

500

1 Hour

0.13

350

24 Hour

0.04

105

24 Hour

260

1 Year

90

24 Hour

150

1 Year

50

3 Month

(Source: Department
(Pb) of Environmental Malaysia)

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1.5

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

The

objective of these standards is

not only to give guidelines for
continual quality of water supplied
to public but also to ensure
effective protection of public health
besides to improve the
management of the water utilities.

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Determines
Conformity
Assessment
The Malaysian National
Standard for Drinking Water
Quality recommends levels for
both raw water quality and
drinking water quality
The standards ensure that the
drinking water is safe to drink
and not hazardous to health or
objectionable to the physical
senses of consumers

Physical,
chemical,
microbiolo
gical and
radiologica
l
parameters
are
included
with
frequency
of testing
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WATER QUALITY STANDARD

Parameter
s

(average)

Treated
Water

5.8 -6.9

6.5 - 9

Iron

mg/l

< 1.0

< 0.3

Manganese

mg/l

< 0.2

< 0.1

Turbidity

NTU

300

<5

Suspended
Solid
DO

mg/l

100

ppm

4-7

8 -10

Color

TCU

300

< 15

Aluminium

mg/l

< 0.1

< 0.2

Fluoride

ppm

< 1.5

0.5 0.7

Res. Chlorine

ppm

1.5 2.5

Ammonia

ppm

< 1.5

pH

Unit

Anak Syarikat Milik Penuh RANHILL UTILITIES BHD

Raw Water

22

Malaysia: National Guidelines for Raw Drinking Water Quality

(Revised December 2000)
Table 1.2: National Guidelines for Raw Drinking Water Quality
Parameter
Sulphate
Hardness
Nitrate
Coliform
Manganese
Chromium
Zinc
Arsenic
Selenium
Chloride
Phenolics
TDS
Iron
Copper
Lead
Cadmium
Mercury

Symbol
SO4
CaCO3SO
NO3SO
Mn
Cr
Zn
As
Se
Cl
Fe
Cu
Pb
Cd
Hg

Benchmark
250 mg/l
500 mg/l
10 mg/l
Must not be detected in any 100 ml sample
0.1 mg/l
0.05 mg/l
3 mg/l
0.01 mg/l
0.01 mg/l
250 mg/l
0.002 mg/l
1000 mg/l
0.3 mg/l
1.0 mg/l
0.01 mg/l
0.003 mg/l
0.001 mg
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Scope of activities: All phases of

drinking water quality
Controlling
of pollution
at source

Surveillanc
e of
drinking
water
quality

Testing of
water

Supplying of
potable
water

Departmen
t of
Environme
nt

Water
Purveyor and
Public Works
Department

Ministry
of
Health

Chemistry
Departme
24
nt
Laborator
y

Interim National Water

Quality Standards
It

is important to
maintain high quality
level for natural water.

Therefore,

the
Department of
Environment has set
up the minimum quality
standard that reflects
its beneficial uses.
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Table 1.3 : Malaysia : Interim National Water Quality

Standard (INWQS)
Parameter
Ammoniacal
Nitrogen
Biochemical
Oxygen Demand
Chemical Oxygen
Demand
Dissolved
Oxygen
pH
Color
Electrical
Conductivity*
Floatables
Odor
Salinity
Taste
Total Dissolve
Solid
Total Suspended
Solid
Temperature
Turbidity

Unit

Classes
I

IIA

IIB

III

IV

mg/L

0.1

0.3

0.3

0.9

2.7

>2.7

mg/L

12

>12

mg/L

10

25

35

50

100

>100

mg/L

5-7

5-7

5-9

5-9

TCU

6.5-8.5
15

6-9
150

6-9
150

5-9
-

5-9
-

S/cm

1000

1000

6000

%
-

N
N
0.5
N

N
N
1
N

N
N
N

2
-

mg/L

500

1000

4000

mg/L

25

50

50

150

300

300

Normal
+ 2 oC
50

NTU
5
Count/
Faecel Coliform**
10
100
100ml
Count/
Total Coliform
100
5000
100ml
Source: Environmental Quality Report 2010

50
400
5000

Normal
+ 2 oC
5000
(20000)a

5000
(20000)a

50000

50000

>50000

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Table 1.4: Classification of Water Based on INWQS

mg/L

I
<0.1

II
0.1-0.3

Class
III
0.3-0.9

mg/L

<1

1-3

3-6

6-12

>12

mg/L

<10

10-25

25-50

50-100

>100

mg/L
-

>7
>7

5-7
6-7

3-5
5-6

<1
>5

mg/L

<25

25-50

50-150

1-3
<5
150300

Parameter

Unit

Ammoniacal Nitrogen
Biochemical Oxygen
Demand
Chemical Oxygen
Demand
Dissolved oxygen
pH
Total Suspended Solid

Table 1.5: Water Classes and Uses

Class
I
IIA
IIB
III
IV
V

IV
0.9-2.7

V
>2.7

>300

Uses
Conservation of natural environment.
Water Supply I Practically no treatment necessary.
Fishery I Very sensitive aquatic species.
Water Supply II Conventional treatment required.
Fishery II Sensitive aquatic species.
Recreational use with body contact.
Water Supply III Extensive treatment required.
Fishery III Common, of economic value and tolerant species;
livestock drinking.
Irrigation
27
None of the above

Source: Environmental Quality Report 2010

WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
STANDARD
The ultimate goal of
wastewater management is
the protection of the
environment in a manner
commensurate with better
waste quality, publics health,
economic, social and political
comments.
The effluents from industries
and sewerage are required to
be treated to a certain quality
before they are discharged
into the water course.

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TABLE 1.6 : EFFLUENT DISCHARGE STANDARDS TO MALAYSIA INLAND WATER

PARAMETERS (mg/l)
Temperature (o C)
pH
BOD5 at 20 o C
COD
Suspended Solids
Mercury
Cadmium
Chromium, hexavalent
Arsenic
Cyanide
Lead
Chromium, trivalent
Copper
Manganese
Nickel
Tin
Zinc
Boron
Iron
Phenol
Free Chlorine
Sulphide
Oil & Grease

MAXIMUM PERMITTED VALUE

STANDARD A STANDARD B
40
6.0 - 9.0

40
5.5 - 9.0

20
50
50
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.0
1.0
0.5
Not detectable

50
100
100
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
4.0
5.0
1.0
2.0
0.5
10.0

Third Schedule of Environmental Quality Act,

1974 under the Environmental Quality
(Sewage and Industrial Effluent) Regulation,
1979, regulation 8(1), 8(2) and 8(3).
Represent maximum or absolute values
which may not be exceeded.
Measurement is taken using a single grab
sample rather than a time averaged
composite sample

29

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA)

1.
2.
3.
4.

The aim of EIA is to assess the overall impact on

the environment of development projects
proposed by the public and private sectors. The
objectives of EIA are:
To examine and select the best from the project
options available
To identify and incorporate into the project plan
appropriate abatement and mitigation measures
To predict the significant residual environmental
impacts
To identify the environmental costs and benefits
of the project to the community.
30

WHY IS EIA SO
IMPORTANT?

EIA is essentially a planning

tool for preventing
environmental problems due
to action. It seeks to avoid
costly mistakes in project
implementation, or
modifications in order to
make the action
environmentally acceptable.
In Malaysia, EIA is required
under section 34A of the
EQA.
31

CONCLUSION
Addressing environmental issues is imperative in the
quest of making Malaysia an advanced nation. Law
and legal obligations must be considered obligation
must be considered when undertaking any
development, which may impact the environment, no
matter how small. Professionals and people of various
backgrounds play a major role in using their skills to
manage and control pollution. The oft-quoted native
Indian proverb which was at the heart of the Brundtland
Report rings true:
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we
owe it to our children.
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END

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