Dedicated authority to be set up to regulate wastes management, says Uggah

KUCHING, Nov 25 2025: The Sarawak Legislative Assembky (SLA) has unanimously passed the  Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill, 2025 that seeks to establish a dedicated authority to regulate, coordinate, and promote sustainable resources and wastes management throughout the state. 

Douglas Uggah: Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill marks an important step in strengthening sustainable resources and wastes management

The bill was passed after 24 state assemblymen from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) took part in the debate.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, in his winding up speech, he said took notes of the isues raised by the state assemblymen.

“There are a lot of suggestions and proposals which are enough constructive that help the ministry to set up the dedicated authority that will implement its role in running the circular economy,” Uggah, who is also the Second Minister of Finance and New Economy, said.

He said the bill marks an important step in strengthening its sustainable resources and wastes management in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030).

In tabling the bill this morning, Uggah said it seeks to empower the authority to oversee activities including segregation, collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal.

“The authority may issue guidelines or directions, require reports, and approve related

plans or projects to ensure effective management and compliance,” Uggah added.

He said the authority will also be responsible to promote investment, research, innovation, and capacity building by engaging with potential investors and financiers to advance sustainable initiatives across Sarawak.

Uggah said the bill marks an important step in advancing Sarawak’s environmental sustainability,

circular economy and energy transition.

“The state’s diverse biomass feedstocks, including palm oil residues, woody biomass, sago wastes, and municipal solid wastes, present significant opportunities for bioenergy development.

“These materials, once regarded merely as wastes, are now recognized as valuable resources for energy generation and value-added industries,” he added.

Under the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), Uggah said bio-energy is projected to

contribute approximately 10 million standard cubic feet (mmscf), measured as natural

gas equivalent, by 2035.

Citing waste of the oil palm industry as an example, he said there are currently 84 palm oil mills operating in Sarawak, processing about 22 million tons of fresh fruit bunch annually.

He said this, in turn, generates approximately four million tons of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and 14 million tons of palm oil mill effluent (POME) each year.

“These byproducts represent low-hanging fruits that is readily available feedstocks that can be converted into a range of bio-based products such as biogas, biofuels, biomass pellets, and biochemicals including bioplastics.

“In addition to EFB and POME, the mills also produce palm kernel shell (PKS), a high quality, high calorific value solid biomass with strong export demand, mainly used as feedstock for energy generation in countries like Japan and South Korea,” he said.

He added Sarawak is also assessing the feasibility of converting municipal solid wastes into energy, where the volume of wastes is sufficient to make such projects viable.

He said the bill also seeks to empower the authority to carry out enforcement activities, including

the power of arrest and compound any person who has committed an offence under the

bill.

“It further grants the authority the power to conduct searches and seizures, as well as to dispose of or forfeit goods in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

“The bill also seeks to introduce provisions on offences and penalties for non-compliance with direction, notice or order, general p