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Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127)

Key Information

Date of Royal Assent: 8 March 1974
Date of Publication in Gazette: 14 March 1974
Latest Amendment (Act A1712): Effective 7 July 2024
Source: AGC - Act 127
Enforcer: Department of Environment


An Act relating to the prevention, abatement, control of pollution and enhancement of the environment, and for purposes connected therewith.

PART I - PRELIMINARY

Section 1. Short title, application and commencement

Section 2. Interpretation

*NOTE

Any reference made in any other written law, arrangement or instruments to “territorial waters” shall in so far as such reference affects federal law means “territorial sea” and shall be construed subject to the provisions of this Act – see section 6 of the Territorial Sea Act 2012 [Act 750].


PART II – ADMINISTRATION

Section 3. Director General and other officers

Section 4. Establishment of the Environmental Quality Council

Section 5. Duration of office and eligibility for reappointment

Section 6. Disqualification, resignation and vacation from office

Section 7. Calling of meetings, quorum, voting, procedure and minutes

Section 8. Presiding officer at meetings of the Council

Section 9. Remuneration


PART III – LICENCES

Section 10. Licensing authority

Section 11. Licences

Section 12. Power to attach conditions to licences

Section 13. Duration and renewal of licences

Section 14. Transfer of licences

Section 15. Register of licences

Section 16. Licensee to comply with licence

Section 17. Licence fees


PART IV – PROHIBITION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION

Section 18. Prescribed premises to be licensed

Section 19. Prohibition against causing vehicle, ship or premises to become prescribed conveyance or prescribed premises

Section 20. Requirement and approval of plans

Section 21. Power to specify conditions of emission, discharge, etc.

Section 22. Restrictions on pollution of the atmosphere

Section 23. Restrictions on noise pollution

Section 24. Restrictions on pollution of the soil

Section 25. Restrictions on pollution of inland waters

Section 26. (Deleted by Act A636).

Section 27. Prohibition of discharge of oil into Malaysian waters

Section 28. Special defences

Section 29. Prohibition of discharge of wastes into Malaysian waters

Section 29A. Prohibition on open burning

Section 29AA. (Deleted by Act A1712).

Section 29B. Owner or occupier of premises liable for open burning

Section 29C. Defence

Section 30. Power to prohibit use of any material or equipment

Section 30A. Power to control use of substance and product and to state environmental labelling

Section 30B. Power to specify rules on deposit and rebate schemes

Section 31. Power to require occupier to install, operate, repair, etc.

Section 31A. Prohibition order, etc.

Section 32. Owner or occupier to maintain and operate equipment

Section 33. Power to prohibit or control licensed persons from discharging, etc., of wastes in certain circumstances

Section 33A. Environmental audit

Section 34. Exemptions

Section 34A. Report on impact on environment resulting from prescribed activities

Section 34AA. Prohibition order for prescribed activities


PART IVA – CONTROL OF SCHEDULED WASTES

Section 34B. Prohibition against placing, deposit, etc., of scheduled wastes


PART V – APPEAL AND APPEAL BOARD

Section 35. Appeal

Section 36. Appeal Board

*NOTE

Subordinate Courts Rules 1980 [P.U. (A) 328/1980] has been repealed by the Rules of Court 2012 [P.U. (A) 205/2012] which comes into operation on 1 August 2012–see Order 1, Rule 1 P.U. (A) 205/2012.


PART VA – PAYMENT OF CESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FUND

Section 36A. Research cess

Section 36B. Establishment of Environmental Fund

Section 36C. Environmental Fund Committee

Section 36D. Contribution into the Fund

Section 36E. Application of the Fund


PART VI – MISCELLANEOUS

Section 37. Owner or occupier to furnish information

Section 37A. Power of investigation

Section 37B. Authority card

Section 37C. Power of arrest

Section 38. Power to stop, board, search, etc.

Section 38A. Power to examine person acquainted with case

Section 38AA. Admissibility of statements in evidence

Section 38AB. Power to require attendance of persons acquainted with case

Section 39. Service of notices

Section 40. Evidence

*NOTE

In the case of Peninsular Malaysia, it shall be construed as the District Land Administrator– see Act A587.

Section 41. Penalty for offences not otherwise provided for

Section 42. Attempts and abetments

Section 43. Offences by bodies of persons and by servants and agents

Section 44. Prosecution

Section 45. Compounding of offences

Section 46. Sessions Court and Court of a Magistrate of the First Class to have jurisdiction

*NOTE

See section 111 of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948 [Act 92].

Section 46A. Power to seize vehicle or ship

Section 46B. Forfeiture of seized vehicle, ship, book, etc.

Section 46BA. List of vehicle, ship, book, etc., seized

Section 46BB. Release of seized book, record, computer, etc.

Section 46BC. Cost of holding seized vehicle, ship, book, etc.

Section 46C. (Deleted by Act A1441).

Section 46D. No costs or damages arising from seizure to be recoverable

Section 46E. Compensation for loss or damage to property

Section 47. Power of recovery of costs and expenses

Section 48. Power to detain and sell vehicle or ships

Section 48A. Power to test and prohibit use of vehicle

Section 48AA. Access to computerized data

Section 48AB. Presumption

Section 48AC. Additional powers

Section 48AE. Joinder of offences

Section 48B. Assistance

Section 49. Delegation

Section 49A. Competent person

Section 49B. Reward to informers

Section 50. Secrecy

Section 50A. Protection of informers

Section 51. Regulations

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