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(Incorporating the Environment Protection (Amendment) Enactment 2012)

STATE OF SABAH

I assent,

TUN DATUK SERI PANGLIMA HAJI SAKARAN BIN DANDAI,

Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

19TH NOVEMBER, 2002.

No. 12 of 2002

An Enactment to make provisions relating to the protection of environment and for

matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

ENACTED by the Legislature of the State of Sabah as follows:

PART I
PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1. This Enactment may be cited as the Environment Protection Enactment 2002 and
shall come into force on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette,
appoint. [03.01.2006]

Interpretation

2. In this Enactment, unless the context otherwise requires –

“agreement of environmental conditions” means an agreement signed by a person

before commencement of any development activity prescribed under section 12;

“Council” means the Environment Protection Council established under section 3;

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“Department” means the Environment Protection Department;

“development activity” includes extraction of natural resources;

“Director” means the Director of the Environment Protection Department appointed

under section 24;

“discharge” includes emit, deposit or allow to escape;

“environment” includes –

(a) the external physical surroundings and conditions influencing

development and growth of people, animals or plants and includes social,
living or working conditions;

(b) all natural and physical resources;

(c) ecosystems and their constituent parts including people and

communities; and

(d) amenity, aesthetic and cultural values;

“environmental authority” means any department of the State or Federal

Government, local authority or officer duly appointed by the Director under this
Enactment to exercise the powers conferred or perform the duties imposed upon
such environmental authority by this Enactment or to perform such duties or
functions as may be directed by the Director for the implementation, execution or
enforcement of any order or decision of the Director made under this Enactment;

“environmental hazard zone” means the environmental hazard zone area declared
as such by the Minister under section 18;

“environmental impact assessment report” means a report or series of reports

which provide a detailed assessment in quantitative terms wherever possible, and
in qualitative terms of –

(a) the likely environmental impacts of a development activity;

(b) the measures required to prevent, mitigate or abate any adverse

environmental impacts, or to protect the environment; and

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(c) the monitoring programme required to ensure compliance with mitigation

measures and to monitor residual impacts;

“environmental protection area” means an area established as such by the Minister

under section 11;

“Government” means the State Government of Sabah or the Federal Government;

“land” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under the Land Ordinance (Cap.
68) [Cap. 68];

“Magistrate” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under the Interpretation
and General Clauses Enactment 1963 [Enactment No. 34 of 1963];

“Minister” means the Minister for the time being responsible for environmental
protection;

“mitigation declaration” means an agreement signed by a person before

commencement of any development activity prescribed under section 12;

“natural resources” includes air, biological diversity of resources, forest and forest
produce, gas, minerals, oil, land, rocks, soils, animals, birds, plants, marine and
aquatic life and waters;

“occupier” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under the Forest Enactment
1968 [Enactment No. 2 of 1968];

“owner” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under the Land Ordinance
(Cap. 68) [Cap. 68];

“penalty” means a fine, imprisonment or other form of punishment;

“Permanent Secretary” means the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry which is for
the time being responsible for the environmental protection;

“person” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under the Interpretation and
General Clauses Enactment 1963 [Enactment No. 34 of 1963];

“pollutant” means any substance whether liquid, solid or gaseous, or micro-

organisms, which directly or indirectly –

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(a) alters the quality of any environment or any part of any environment so as
to adversely affect the environment;

(b) is hazardous or potentially hazardous or prejudicial to health and safety;

(c) change the temperature or the physical, biological or chemical

characteristic and quality of the environment so as to diversely affect the
environment; or

(d) creates obnoxious odours, noise or radioactivity;

“pollution” means any direct or indirect alteration of the environment or any part
thereof by discharging, emitting, or depositing wastes or pollutants thereby causing
hazard to the environment or causing a condition which is hazardous or potentially
hazardous to public health and safety or welfare, or to animals, birds, fish, aquatic
life or plants;

“prescribed activities” means any activity as prescribed by the Director under

section 12;

“produce” means timber, earth, minerals, sand, sandstones, rocks, limestone,

silica, marble and other natural resources;

“proposal for mitigation measures” means a proposal or series of proposals which

provide a description of –

(a) the known environmental impacts of a development activity;

(b) the measures required to prevent, mitigate or abate any adverse

environmental impacts, or to protect the environment; and

(c) the monitoring programme required to ensure compliance with mitigation

measures and to monitor residual impacts;

“relevant authority” means any Government authorities or agencies responsible for

approving development activities;

“rules” includes regulations and by-laws;

“significant” means the adverse effect of any activity which has or is likely to have
on the environment due to the –

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(a) magnitude of the effect in relation to the spatial boundaries;

(b) permanence of the effect;

(c) irreversibility of the effect;

(d) cumulativeness over time of the effect; or

(e) risks of the effect in relation to health and safety;

“vegetation” includes forest;

“water” includes river water, lake water, underground water, coastal water and
storm water.

PART II
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COUNCIL

Establishment of Environment Protection Council

3. (1) There shall be established for the purpose of this Enactment a body which
shall be known as the “Environment Protection Council” (hereinafter referred to as “the
Council”) whose function shall be to advise the State Government on matters pertaining
to the implementation of this Enactment.

(2) The Council shall consist of the following members –

(a) a Chairman, who shall be the Minister;

(b) the Director of Environment Protection Department, who shall be the

Secretary to the Council;
(c) the State Attorney General or his authorised representative;

(d) the Secretary of Natural Resources or his authorised representative;

(e) the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment,

Science and Technology or his authorised representative;

(f) the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Industries or his authorised representative;

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(g) the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and

Housing or his authorised representative;

(h) the Director of Lands and Surveys or his authorised representative;

(i) the Director of Forestry Department or his authorised representative;

(j) the Director of Drainage and Irrigation Department or his authorised

representative;

(k) the Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology

and Environment or his authorised representative;

(l) the Director of Federal Department of Environment (Sabah Region) or

his authorised representative; and

(m) 3 other members, who shall be appointed by the Minister.

(3) The Director shall have no right to vote at any meeting.

(4) The Minister may in respect of each member appointed, under paragraph
(m) of subsection (2) appoint one person to be an alternate member to attend in place of
the member at meetings of the Council if the member is for any reason unable to attend.

(5) When attending meetings of the Council, an alternate member appointed

under subsection (4) shall for all purposes be deemed to be a member of the Council.

(6) An alternate member shall, unless the alternate member sooner resigns or
the appointment is sooner revoked, cease to be an alternate member when the member
in respect of whom he is an alternate member ceases to be a member of the Council.

Duration of office and eligibility for reappointment

4. Every appointed member of the Council shall, unless the member sooner resigns
or the appointment is revoked, holds office for a term not exceeding three years and shall
be eligible for reappointment.

Disqualification, resignation and vacation

5. (1) The following persons shall be disqualified from being appointed or being
members of the Council –

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(a) a person who is of unsound mind or is otherwise incapable of

performing the required duties;

(b) a person who has been found guilty of an offence involving fraud,
dishonesty or moral turpitude; or

(c) a person who is bankrupt.

(2) An appointed member of the Council shall be deemed to have vacated office
–

(a) upon death;

(b) upon resignation;

(c) upon failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the council

without the permission of the Chairman; or

(d) if the member becomes disqualified under subsection (1);

and a new member shall be appointed for the unexpired period in accordance with the
provisions under this Enactment.

Calling of meeting, quorum, voting, procedure and minutes

6. (1) The Council shall meet once every four months of the year and shall, in
addition, meet as and when convened by the Chairman.

(2) The Council meeting shall have a quorum of at least nine members.

(3) The Council decision shall be by majority votes.

(4) If there is an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a casting vote in
addition to his deliberative vote.

(5) Subject to this Enactment, the Council shall determine its own procedure.

(6) The Council shall keep minutes of all proceedings of the Council.

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(7) The Chairman may invite or request a person, who is not a member of the
Council, to attend any meeting of the Council for the purpose of advising it on matter
under discussion but the person so attending shall have no right to vote at the meeting.

Chairman to preside meetings

7. The Chairman of the Council shall preside at all meetings of the Council.

Payment of allowance

8. Every member of the Council may be paid an allowance of such sums as may be
determined by the Minister in respect of attendance at a meeting of the Council.

PART III
GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO POLICIES AND
PROGRAMMES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Environmental protection policy

9. The Minister may direct the Director to formulate any environmental protection
policy pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions under this Enactment.

Environmental protection programme

10. (1) The Director may formulate any programme in respect of any measure for
environmental protection in the following area –

(a) any area where environmental pollution is currently significant; or

(b) any area where environmental pollution is likely to become significant

due to the rapidly increasing concentration of population or human
activity.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Director or the environmental authority, as the case
may be, to formulate an environmental protection action plan in respect of any area
designated for environmental protection within such time as the Director may specify.

(3) The environmental protection action plan shall incorporate a system of

integrated management of environmental protection, taking into consideration the

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significance of the problem and economic, social and environmental conditions which
shall include –

(a) control of pollution from point sources;

(b) procurement and acquisition of land, materials, equipment, tools and

appliances which are essential for the construction, installation,
improvement, modification, repair, maintenance and operation of
environmental protection facilities such as central wastewater
treatment plants or central waste disposal facilities;

(c) inspection, monitoring and control of pollution; and

(d) all costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the carrying out
of the environmental protection action plan.

Environmental protection area

11. The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, designate any area of land,
whether alienated or unalienated, as an environmental protection area for the protection
of the environment.

Prescribed activities

12. The Director may, with the approval of the Minister, by order prescribe any activity
which may have adverse effect on the environment as prescribed activities.

Prescribed activities to be approved

12A. (1) No person shall carry out any prescribed activities unless the environmental
impact assessment report or the proposal for mitigation measures thereof has been
approved by the Director.

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1), -

(a) in relation to environmental impact assessment report, commits an

offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one
hundred thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
five years or to both; and

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(b) in relation to proposal for mitigation measures, commits an offence

and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty
thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two
years or to both.

Requirement to submit a report or a proposal for prescribed activities

12B. (1) Any person who intends to carry out any prescribed activities shall submit an
environmental impact assessment report or a proposal for mitigation measures thereof to
the Director.

(2) The Director may, at any time after receiving the report or the proposal,
require the person to submit any other report or proposal to him in addition to the report
or the proposal submitted under subsection (1).

(3) If the person fails to provide the report or the proposal required under
subsection (2), his application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn without prejudice
to the making of a fresh application.

(4) The report and the proposal shall be prepared in accordance with the
procedures and guidelines under section 15.

Master environmental impact assessment report

12C. (1) The Director may direct any person to prepare and submit a master
environmental impact assessment report where the prescribed activities consist of
smaller individual development activities to be carried out in stages and which is subject
to individual review or approval.

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and shall,
on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Approval of report or proposal for prescribed activities

12D. (1) If the Director, upon examining the environmental impact assessment report
or the proposal for mitigation measures submitted under section 12B and after making
such inquires as he considers necessary, is of the opinion that –

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(a) the report or the proposal has complied with the procedures and
guidelines;

(b) the measures required to prevent, mitigate or abate the adverse

environmental impacts or to protect the environment are adequate;
and

(c) the impacts are not detrimental to the environment,

he may approve the report or the proposal.

(2) If the Director, upon examining the environmental impact assessment report
or the proposal for mitigation measures and after making such inquires as he considers
necessary, is of the opinion that –

(a) the report or the proposal does not comply with the procedures and
guidelines;

(b) the measures required to prevent, mitigate or abate the adverse

environmental impact or to protect the environment are inadequate; or

(c) the impacts are detrimental to the environment,

he shall not approve the report or the proposal and shall inform the person intending to
carry out the prescribed activities and the relevant authority accordingly.

Requirement to sign, and comply with the terms and conditions of an agreement or
declaration

12E. (1) The Director shall, before the commencement of any prescribed activities in
respect of which an environmental impact assessment report or proposal for mitigation
measures has been submitted and approved, require the person to undertake in writing to
comply with any terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Director by signing an
agreement of environmental conditions or a mitigation declaration, as the case may be.

(2) The Director may add to, vary or revoke the terms and conditions of the
agreement or the declaration.

(3) Any person who fails to comply with the terms and conditions of –

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(a) the agreement of the environmental conditions, commits an offence

and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred
thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five
years or to both; and

(b) the mitigation declaration, commits an offence and shall, on

conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

Stop work order for prescribed activities

12F. (1) The Director may issue a stop work order to the person carrying out the
prescribed activities –

(a) without the approval under subsection 12C(1);

(b) who has failed to comply with any terms and conditions of the
agreement of the environmental conditions or the mitigation
declaration;

(c) if it is found that the environmental impact assessment report or the

proposal for mitigation measures has been approved as a result of a
fraud, mistake or misrepresentation in any material particular; or

(d) who has contravened any of the provisions of this Enactment.

(2) The stop work order may be issued for the purpose of preventing the
prescribed activities from continuing –

(a) either absolutely or conditionally;

(b) for such period as the Director may determine; or

(c) until requirements to remedy as the Director may direct have been
complied with.

(3) Any person who contravenes this section shall, -

(a) in relation to environmental impact assessment report, commits an

offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one

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hundred thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding

five years or to both; and

(b) in relation to proposal for mitigation measures, commits an offence

and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty
thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two
years or to both.

Reports on non-prescribed activities

13. The Director may require an environmental impact assessment report or a proposal
for mitigation measures to be submitted by an applicant for any activity not prescribed
under section 12 if the Director is of the opinion that such development activity has or is
likely to have an adverse effect on the environment.

Governmental Authority to notify the Director

14. Any governmental authority shall immediately notify the Director in writing, if a
development activity under their jurisdiction is included in the list of prescribed
development activities or if the governmental authority is of the opinion that an
environmental impact assessment report or a proposal for mitigation measures is
required.

Procedures and guidelines for environmental impact

15. (1) The Director shall, from time to time, prepare procedures and guidelines for
the preparation of environmental impact assessment and proposal for mitigation
measures, and the issuance of agreement of environmental conditions and mitigation
declaration.

(2) The Director may add to or vary the procedures and guidelines as he deems
necessary.

Imposition of processing fees

16. The Director may charge a reasonable fee from any person involved in the
preparation of environmental impact assessment reports or proposal for mitigation
measures for the processing of such environmental impact assessment reports or
proposal for mitigation measures by the Department.

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Licensing of prescribed activities

17. (1) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe the types and
sizes of any activity causing pollution or likely to cause pollution to be controlled by way
of licensing.

(2) No person shall operate any activity prescribed under subsection (1) without
a licence issued for that purpose and no person shall be issued with a licence unless the
prescribed fee has been paid.

(3) The Director may revoke any licence issued to any person if the Director has
reasonable cause to believe that the licensee has contravened any of the terms and
conditions in the licence.

(4) The Director shall issue a notice to the licensee, prior to revocation of any
licence.

(5) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence and shall,
on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding one year or to both.

Environmental hazard zone

18. (1) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any area as an
environmental hazard zone if such an area is polluted and may cause significant risk to
human health and safety or the environment.

(2) When an area is declared as an environmental hazard zone, the Director

may impose such restrictions on the use of the area as the Director deems necessary to
reduce environmental hazard in the area and its surroundings.

(3) The Minister may revoke any declaration in whole or in part in respect of any
area so declared as an environmental hazard zone if the restrictions and precautions are
no longer applicable to such area.

Imposition of product fee, etc.

19. The Minister may impose product fee, effluent fee, user fee or waste disposal fee
at such rates as may be determined by the Minister from time to time.

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Measures for protection of the environment

20. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Part, the Director may impose
any measure or condition, necessary for the protection of the environment, the prevention
or mitigation of any adverse effect on the environment in connection with any activity,
which relates but not limited to –

(a) any use of land, cultivation of land or the methods used thereof;

(b) earthworks or land reclamation;

(c) cutting of trees, clearing or destruction of vegetation or setting fire in any

land;

(d) excavation or dredging in water courses or altering the source and course of
banks or streams;

(e) any discharge of any pollutant into water, watercourses, lakes or foreshore,
and the storage of such pollutant;

(f) any activity relating to the production, storing, treating, transporting or

disposal of waste;

(g) any activity relating to any sewage line, waste water treatment plant,
incineration plant and waste landfill and on the design, operation and
maintenance of such line or plant;

(h) any livestock activity and the disposal of animal or other organic waste;

(i) any activity relating to the excavation or altering of any geographical or

geological feature.

PART IV
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION FUND

Establishment of Environment Protection Fund

21. (1) There shall be established a fund to be known as the “Environmental

Protection Fund” (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”) of the Department.

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(2) The Fund shall be administered by a committee to be known as the

“Environment Protection Fund Committee” consisting of –

(a) the Permanent Secretary as Chairman;

(b) the State Treasurer or his authorised representative; and

(c) the Director.

Moneys to be paid into the Fund

22. (1) There shall be paid into the Fund –

(a) such sum as may be appropriated by the Legislative Assembly

necessary for the purposes of the Fund;

(b) the fees collected under sections 16, 17(2) and 19;

(c) any loan or grant given to the Government by the Federal

Government for the purposes of the Fund;

(d) the fees collected under the Rules made hereunder; and

(e) any order directed by the Court under this Enactment.

(2) All moneys paid into the Fund shall be deposited in any bank duly licensed
under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989.

Purposes of the Fund

23. The Fund shall be used for the following purposes –

(a) the preparation and implementation of the environmental protection action

plans;
(b) expenditures incurred in the establishment, protection, conservation and
management of the environmental protection areas;

(c) research and development relating to environmental protection measures;

(d) investigative works on environmental hazard and pollution; or

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(e) any work necessitated by the presence of or the likelihood of the occurrence
of environmental hazard and pollution.

PART V
ADMINISTRATION

Functions and duties of the Director

24. (1) There shall be a Director of the Environment Protection Department who
shall be appointed from amongst members of the State Public Service and whose
functions and duties shall be to –

(a) carry out or perform any action necessary to protect, conserve,

rehabilitate, restore or maintain sound environmental quality;

(b) incorporate environmental protection into the planning of any

development activity or utilization of any natural resource which is
likely to have an adverse effect on the environment;

(c) regulate any development activity or utilization of natural resources

which has or is likely to have adverse effect on the environment;

(d) protect sensitive areas for the conservation of bio-diversity and the
maintenance of environmental quality;

(e) take any action necessary to protect the aesthetic, natural and scenic
environmental quality;

(f) promote cooperation and collaboration between federal, state and

local authorities on the formulation and implementation of
environmental protection policies and programmes;

(g) promote environmental research, science and technology;

(h) promote environmental awareness on the importance of

environmental protection, conservation and quality;

(i) conduct any survey, research or study on the state of the environment
of the State or any part thereof necessary for the formulation and
implementation of policies relating to environmental protection; and

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(j) carry out any function or duty in accordance with or pursuant to any of
the provisions under this Enactment.

(2) There shall be such number of other officers as may be necessary or

expedient for the due administration of this Enactment appointed by the State Public
Service Commission.

(3) The Director may, in his absence, delegate the exercise of any of the powers
of the Director under this Enactment to any officer of the Department.

(4) The Minister may give any specific or general direction to the Director not
inconsistent with this Enactment.

Obligation to carry out any function, etc. within reasonable time

25. Every person who exercises or carries out any function, power or duty or is
required under this Enactment to do or carry out any act for which no time limit is imposed
shall do so as soon as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances.

Environmental enforcement officer.

26. (1) The Director may appoint any officer of the Department or any public officer
as environmental enforcement officer as may be necessary for the purpose of this
Enactment and regulations made under this Enactment.

(2) In exercising any of the powers of enforcement under this Enactment, an

environmental enforcement officer shall on demand, produce to the person against whom
the power is being exercised, the authority issued to him by the Director

(3) No person shall impersonate an environmental enforcement officer.

(4) Any person who impersonate as an environmental enforcement officer

commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ten
thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.

Furnishing of information to the Director

27. The Director may, by notice in writing, require any person, occupier or owner of
any place or premise to furnish to the Director information relating to –

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(a) any use of land or vegetation;

(b) any damming, diversion, taking or use of any water;

(c) any construction, drainage, excavation, reclamation, in or of any foreshore or

seabed;

(d) any equipment, control equipment or industrial plant or any produce found
on such place or premise;

(e) any pollutant found in such place or premise;

(f) any emission, discharged or deposit of any pollutant in or on such place or

premise; or

(g) any book, record or document relating to the use of any equipment, control
equipment or industrial plant or any produce.

PART VI
DUTIES AND RESTRICTIONS

Restrictions on the use of land

28. (1) No person shall use any land in a manner which has or is likely to have a
significant adverse effect on the environment.

(2) In this section, the word “use” in relation to any land means –

(a) any alteration, erection, extension, placement, removal, use or

demolition of any structure or part of any structure in, on, under or
over the land;

(b) any excavation, drilling, tunnelling or other disturbance of the land;

(c) any destruction of, damage to or disturbance of the habitats of plants

or animals in, on or under the land;

(d) any deposit of any pollutant in, on or under the land; or

(e) any entry of any pollutant onto, or passing across, the surface of the
land.

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Restrictions on activities along coastal area

29. No person shall, in or along any coastal area –

(a) reclaim or drain any foreshore or seabed in a manner which has or is likely
to have a significant adverse effect on the environment;

(b) alter, erect, demolish, place, reconstruct or remove any structure or any part
of a structure that is fixed in, on, under or over any foreshore or seabed in a
manner which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the
environment;

(c) damage, destroy or disturb any foreshore or seabed by excavating, drilling

or tunnelling in a manner that has or is likely to have a significant adverse
effect on the foreshore or seabed other than for the purpose of lawfully
harvesting any plant or animal pursuant to any written law; or

(d) deposit in, on or under any foreshore or seabed any pollutant in a manner
that has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the foreshore or
seabed.

Restrictions on activities affecting bed of lake or river

30. No person shall, in relation to the bed of any lake or river –

(a) alter, demolish, erect, extend, place, reconstruct or remove any structure or
any part of a structure in, on, under or over the bed;

(b) disturb by excavating, drilling or tunnelling the bed;

(c) introduce or plant any plant or any part of a plant (whether exotic or
indigenous) in, on or under the bed;

(d) deposit any pollutant in, on or under the bed;

(e) reclaim or drain the bed;

(f) enter or pass across the bed of any river or lake; or

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(g) damage, destroy, disturb or remove any part or part of any plant (whether
exotic or indigenous) or the habitats of any such plant or of animal in, on or
under the bed of any lake or river;

in a manner which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment.

Restrictions on activities affecting water

31. No person shall dam, divert, take or use any –

(a) water;

(b) heat or energy from water; or

(c) heat or energy from the material surrounding any geothermal water;

in a manner which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment.

Restrictions on discharge of pollutants

32. No person shall discharge any –

(a) pollutant into water;

(b) pollutant onto or into any land in circumstances which may result in pollutant
(or any other pollutant emanating as a result of natural processes from that
pollutant) entering water;

(c) pollutant from any agricultural premise, industrial premise or any other
premises into air; or

(d) pollutant from any agricultural premise, industrial premise or any other
premises into land;
in a manner which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment.

Restrictions on activities affecting vegetation

33. No person shall, in relation to any vegetation (whether indigenous or otherwise) –

(a) alter, burn, convert, destroy, modify, mutilate, transform, transpose or vary
such vegetation or any part of any vegetation; or

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(b) exploit such vegetation or any part thereof;

in a manner which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment.

Control of genetically modified organism or plant or animal

34. No person shall introduce any genetically modified organism or plant or animal
which has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment.

Duty to prevent adverse effect on the environment

35. Every person shall have a duty to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effect on
the environment arising from any activity carried out by or on behalf of that person
whether or not such activity is licensed or permitted in writing by the Director in
accordance with this Enactment.

Exemption for research activities

36. The Director may exempt the requirement of any of the provisions under this
Enactment for any activity carried out by the Government for the purpose of research.

PART VII
ENFORCEMENT AND ANCILLARY POWERS

Director may issue abatement notice for the protection of the environment

37. (1) The Director may issue an abatement notice on any person requiring that
person to cease, or prohibiting that person from commencing, anything done or to be
done by or on behalf of that person which –

(a) contravenes or is likely to contravene any of the provisions under this

Enactment; or

(b) is or is likely to be obnoxious, dangerous, offensive or objectionable to

such an extent that it has or is likely to have an adverse effect on the
environment.

(2) The Director may issue an abatement notice on any person requiring that
person to do something that is necessary to ensure compliance by or on behalf of that

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person with any of the provisions under this Enactment and also necessary to avoid,
remedy or mitigate any actual or likely adverse effect on the environment –

(a) caused by or on behalf of that person; or

(b) relating to any land of which the person is the owner or occupier.

(3) An abatement notice shall not be issued on any person unless the Director
has reasonable grounds for believing that any of the circumstances in subsection (1) or
subsection (2) exist.

(4) Every person who is issued with an abatement notice under this section
shall comply with such notice within such time as the Director may stipulate in the
notice having regard to the nature and significance of the act to be done, remedied,
ceased or prohibited.

(5) Every abatement notice shall include but not limited to the following -

(a) the name of the person to whom it is addressed;

(b) the reasons for the notice;

(c) the action required to be taken or ceased or not undertaken; and

(d) the consequences of not complying with the notice.

(6) If any person, owner or occupier falls to carry out any work under any
abatement notice, the Director may carry out the work necessary to give effect to such
abatement notice, and any costs incurred therein shall be deemed to be a debt owed by
such person, owner or occupier to the State Government and, until discharged, interest
shall be paid thereon at the current market price.

(7) Any appeal under section 47 paragraph (c) shall not operate as a stay of the
abatement notice issued under this section.

(8) Any person who contravenes subsection (4) commits an offence and shall,
on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment
for term not exceed

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Right of entry

38. (1) Every environmental enforcement officer may at all reasonable times and
with reasonable cause go on, into, under or over any place, premise or structure, except
a dwelling house, for the purpose of inspection to determine whether or not –

(a) any of the provisions under this Enactment is being complied with; or

(b) an abatement notice is being complied with.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), an environmental enforcement officer may
–

(a) take samples of water, air, soil or any organic matter;

(b) take samples of any pollutant which is emitted, discharged or

deposited or is likely to be or is of a class or kind that is usually
emitted, discharged or deposited from such place, premise or
structure;

(c) take samples of any fuel used, or is likely to be used or usually in any
trade, industry or process carried out in or on such place, premise or
structure;

(d) examine and inspect any equipment, control equipment, monitoring

equipment or industrial plant or any produce;

(e) examine any book, record or document relating to the performance or

use of such equipment, control equipment, monitoring equipment or
industrial plant or any produce; or

(f) examine any book, record or document relating to the emission,

discharge or deposit from such place, premise or structure.

(3) If the owner or occupier of a premise which is subject to inspection is not

present at the time of the inspection, the environmental enforcement officer shall leave in
a prominent and conspicuous position at the premise or attach to the structure, a written
notice showing the date and time of the inspection and the name of the environmental
enforcement officer carrying out the inspection.

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(4) The Director or any environmental enforcement officer may obtain from any
governmental authority or any police station such assistance necessary for exercising
such power under this section.

Authority to carry out any survey, etc.

39. For the purpose connected with any preparation, change or review of any
environmental policy or plan under this Enactment, the Director may expressly authorise
any environmental enforcement officer to -

(a) carry out any survey, investigation, test or measurement;

(b) take samples of any water, air, soil or vegetation; or

(c) enter or re-enter land or any part thereof;

with or without such assistance, vehicles, appliances, machinery or equipment as is

necessary for that purpose, provided that the environmental enforcement officer shall not
enter any dwelling house.

Power of entry, seizure and arrest

40. (1) The Director, any environmental enforcement officer or any police officer
may, without warrant –

(a) require any person to furnish any approval or licence for any act done
or committed by such person or his servants or agents for which such
approval or licence is required under this Enactment;

(b) arrest any person who he has reason to believe has committed an
offence under this Enactment;

(c) seize any equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce,

documents or other things for which he has reason to believe that
such equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents
or other things has been used in the commission of any offence or in
the relation to which any offence has been committed under this
Enactment; or

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(d) enter and search any place or premise which he has reason to believe
that an offence under this Enactment is about to be or has been
committed.

(2) Any person arrested under subsection (1) shall be brought to the nearest
police station or be produced before a Magistrate to be dealt with as provided under the
Criminal Procedure Code.

(3) (Deleted)

Temporary return and list of things seized

41. (1) Where anything has been seized under this Enactment, the Director may
temporarily return the thing seized to the owner thereof or to the person from whose
possession, custody or control it was seized, subject to such terms and conditions as the
Director may impose and subject, in any case, to sufficient security being furnished to the
satisfaction of the Director that the thing seized shall be surrendered to him on demand
and that the said terms and conditions, if any, shall be complied with.

(2) Where any seizure is made under this Enactment, the Director,
environmental enforcement officer or police officer making the seizure shall prepare a list
of any equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other things
seized and of the place or premise in which it is found and shall sign the list.

(3) The list prepared in accordance with subsection (2) shall be delivered
immediately to the occupier, or his servants or agents present in the place or premise
where the equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other things
seized are found.

(4) Where the seizure is made in or from any place or premise which is
unoccupied, the Director, environmental enforcement officer or police officer shall
whenever possible post a list of the things seized conspicuously at such place or
premise.

(5) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and shall,
on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

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Forfeiture and disposal of things seized

41A. (1) Any equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other
things seized pursuant to this Enactment shall be liable to forfeiture.

(2) Where there is no prosecution with regard to any equipment, machinery,

conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other things seized in exercise of any powers
conferred under this Enactment, the same shall be taken and deemed to be forfeited at
the expiration of one calendar month from the date it was seized unless a claim thereto is
made before that date in the manner hereinafter set forth.

(3) Any person asserting that he is the owner of any equipment, machinery,
conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other things seized under this Enactment and
that the same are not liable to forfeiture may personally or by his agent authorised in
writing by him give written notice to the Director of his claim.

(4) On receipt of a notice under subsection (3) the Director who may, after such
enquiry as may be necessary, direct that any equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools,
produce, documents or other things seized be returned or forfeited or refer the matter to
the Court for decision.

(5) The Court to which the matter is referred shall issue a summons requiring
the person asserting that he is the owner of any equipment, machinery, conveyance,
tools, produce, documents or other things seized and the person from whom they were
seized to appear before it and upon appearance or default to appear, due service of the
summon being proved, the Court shall proceed to the examination of the matter and on
proof that an offence under this Enactment or rules made thereunder has been
committed and that such equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents
or other things seized was the subject matter or was used in the commission of such
offence, shall order the same to be forfeited or may, in absence of such proof, order the
return of such equipment, machinery, conveyance, tools, produce, documents or other
things seized to the person entitled to it.

(6) The Court shall upon conviction of an offence, order anything seized to be
forfeited and disposed of in accordance with the provisions under this Enactment.

(7) Where anything has been forfeited under this Enactment, the Director shall
dispose such thing by way of auction or tender and the proceeds of sale shall be
deposited into the Environment Protection Fund.

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Disposal of perishable things seized

42. (1) Unless the Court orders to the contrary, the Director may dispose in a
manner he deems proper anything seized if such thing is subject to speedy and rapid
natural decay or deterioration.

(2) The Director shall keep any proceed of sale under subsection (1) in any
bank until the Court disposes of the case.

Power to investigate

43. (1) The Director, any environmental enforcement officer, any police officer not
below the rank of Sergeant and any officer in charge of police station may without the
order of the Public Prosecutor exercise all or any of the special powers in relation to
police investigations given by the Criminal Procedure Code in any seizable offence under
this Enactment.

(2) The Director, any environmental enforcement officer, any police officer not
below the rank of Sergeant and any officer in charge of police station may, in any non-
seizable offence under this Enactment exercise the special powers in relation to police
investigations given by the Criminal Procedure Code after obtaining an order to
investigate from the Public Prosecutor.

No costs, damages, etc. on seizure

44. No person shall in any proceeding before any Court in respect of anything seized
in the exercise or purported exercise of the powers conferred under this Enactment be
entitled to costs or to any damage or other relief other than an order for the return of such
thing or the payment of their value unless such seizure was made mala fide.

Power to prosecute

45. Any person authorised in writing by the Public Prosecutor pursuant to section 377
of the Criminal Procedure Code, may conduct prosecution under this Enactment.

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PART VIII
ENVIRONMENT APPEAL BOARD

Establishment of Environment Appeal Board

46. (1) There shall be established for the purpose of this Enactment an Appeal
Board which shall be known as the "Environment Appeal Board" whose function shall be
to hear any appeal provided for under section 47.

(2) The members of the Appeal Board shall be appointed by the Minister and
shall consist of –

(a) a Chairman who shall be an ex-judge or a person who is fit to be a

high court judge; and

(b) 2 members, one of whom shall be a member of the State Civil

Service.

(3) A member of the Appeal Board shall hold office for a period not exceeding 3
years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(4) A member shall be entitled to such remuneration or allowances as the

Minister may determine.

(5) The Minister may revoke the appointment of any member without assigning
any reason for such revocation.

(6) A member of the Appeal Board having an interest in any matter before it
shall, as soon as the member is aware of his interest, disclose the fact and nature thereof
to the Chairman and shall take no part or further part in the proceedings of the Appeal
Board and in such circumstances, the Minister may appoint a replacement member.

(6A) If a member of the Appeal Board is unable to attend an appeal proceeding

due to illness or because of incapacity, the Minister may appoint a replacement member
and such appointed member shall be provided with the notes of proceeding and all other
related documents submitted before the Appeal Board.

(7) Every disclosure of interest under subsection (6) shall be recorded.

(8) An award made by the Appeal Board shall be final and binding on all parties
to the appeal.

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(9) In considering an appeal, the Appeal Board shall hear the appellant and the
Director.

(10) The Appeal Board shall deliver a reasoned decision.

(11) Prior to the Minister making rules to prescribe the procedure of the Appeal
Board, the following procedures shall apply –

(a) the appellant shall state the grounds of the appeal;

(b) the appellant shall compile all the documents or correspondence

relating to the decision and shall forward one copy to the Director;

(c) the Appeal Board may direct the appellant to give written statements
to substantiate the appeal and a copy thereof shall be extended to the
Director;

(d) the written statement shall be given within a period of one month or
any extension allowed thereof;

(e) the Appeal Board may allow any amendment to the statement;

(f) the Appeal Board shall then fix a hearing date;

(g) the hearing may be by way of a written statement which may contain
facts and law;

(h) if it is an oral hearing, the examination in-chief shall be by way of a

written statement, subject to cross examination;

(i) allow expert witnesses and the cost shall be borne by the party who
calls the witness;

(j) allow parties to have representations; or

(k) generally direct and do all such things as may be necessary or

expedient for the expeditious determination of the appeal.

(12) In respect of an appeal before it, the-Appeal Board shall have powers to –

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(a) summon the parties to the proceedings or any other person to attend
before it to give evidence or other thing in the possession of that
person or otherwise to assist the Appeal Board in its deliberations; or

(b) require any person to bind himself by an oath to state the truth;

(13) if the appellant fails to appear at the hearing without showing reasonable
cause, the Appeal Board may dismiss the appeal.

(14) The hearing before the Appeal Board shall be open to the public.

(15) The decision of the Appeal Board shall be delivered within a period of three
months after completion of the hearing.

(16) No costs shall be awarded in a hearing before the Appeal Board.

(17) The law of evidence shall not be applicable in a hearing before the Appeal
Board.

(18) For the purposes of the Penal Code, the Appeal Board shall be deemed to
be a court, and every member thereof shall be deemed to be a public servant.

Appeal

47. Any person who is aggrieved by –

(a) any decision of the Director under section 12; or

(b) any decision of the Director under section 17; or

(c) an abatement notice issued under section 37;

may within 30 days from the date of the final decision of the Director made under
paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), submit an appeal to the Director who shall forward such appeal
to the Chairman of the Appeal Board.

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PART I X
REGISTRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

Establishment of Registration of Environmental Consultants Committee

48. There shall be established for the purpose of this Enactment a Committee which
shall be known as the "Registration of Environmental Consultants Committee" whose
function shall be to regulate and administer the registration of environmental consultants
in the State of Sabah.

Members of the Committee

49. (1) The Committee shall consist of –

(a) the Permanent Secretary as Chairman;

(b) the State Attorney-General or his authorised representative; and

(c) the Director.

(2) The Director shall be the Secretary of the Committee.

(3) The resolution of the Committee shall be final.

Registered environmental consultant to prepare reports

50. (1) No person shall submit any environmental impact assessment report unless
such report has been prepared by an environmental consultant duly registered as an
environmental consultant and holds a valid certificate of practice issued by the
Department.

(2) The Director shall impose a fee for every issuance of certificate of practice.

(3) Every certificate of practice shall be valid for a period not exceeding two
years and may be renewable on application.

(4) There shall be a Register of Environmental Consultants which shall be kept

and maintained by the Director.

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PART X
MISCELLANEOUS

Failure to submit Environment Impact Assessment report or comply with terms of

agreement

51. (Deleted)

Failure to comply with abatement notice

52. (Deleted)

Failure to obtain licence or comply with conditions

53. (Deleted)

Failure to submit proposal for mitigation measures or comply with conditions

54. (Deleted)

Penalty for non-possession of letter of authority, etc.

55. (Deleted)

Penalty for obstructing, etc.

56. Any person who assaults, obstructs, impedes, interferes with or deceives the
Director or any environmental enforcement officer in the execution of any of the powers
under this Enactment commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not
exceeding ten thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or
to both.

Failure to surrender on demand things seized

56A. (Deleted)

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General penalty for breach of Enactment or regulations

56B. (1) Any person who commits an offence under this Enactment or any of the
regulations made under this Enactment where no penalty is expressly provided shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding two years or to both.

(2) Any person who abets the commission of an offence punishable under this
Enactment or any of the regulations made hereunder shall be punishable as if he had
committed the said offence.

Continued offence as separate offence

57. For every single day an offence is continued, it shall be considered as a separate
offence.

Compounding of offences

58. (1) The Director may, compound any offence committed by any person under
this Enactment or any regulations made under this Enactment by accepting from the
person reasonably suspected of having committed such offence a sum of money not
exceeding fifty per centum of the amount of the maximum fine for that offence, within the
time specified in the offer.

(2) An offer to compound under subsection (1) may be made at any time after
the offence has been committed, but before any prosecution for it has been instituted.

(3) Where the amount specified in the offer to compound under subsection (1) is
not paid within the time specified in the offer, or within such extended period as the
Director may grant, prosecution for that offence may be instituted at any time after such
period against the person to whom the offer to compound was made.

(4) Where an offence has been compounded under subsection (1), no

prosecution shall be instituted after that in respect of the offence against the person to
whom the offer to compound was made and any conveyance, machinery, contrivance,
equipment, book, record, document or other article seized in connection with the offence
may be released or forfeited by the Director, subject to such terms and conditions as may
be imposed in accordance with the conditions of the compound.

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(5) All moneys paid to the Director shall be paid into and form part of the State
Consolidated Fund.

Protection against suit and legal proceedings

58A. No action, suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall be brought, instituted or

maintained in any court against –

(a) any member of the Council;

(b) Director; or

(c) any environmental enforcement officer,

for any act or omission done in good faith in the performance of their functions and the
exercise of their powers under this Enactment.

Debt owed be paid to the Environment Protection Fund

59. Any debt owed to the State Government under this Enactment shall be paid to the
Environment Protection Fund.

PART XI
RULES, SAVINGS AND REPEAL

Powers to make rules

60. (1) The Minister may make rules to give effect to the provisions under this
Enactment.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may
provide rules for -

(a) the establishment and management of any environmental protection

area;

(b) prescribing licensing scheme and fee for any prescribed activity which
has or is likely to have an adverse effect on the environment;

(c) prescribing environmental standards for air, water and soil or

permissible noise, and the measurement and control of each standard

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not inconsistent with the provisions of any regulation or rules made

under any written law;

(d) prescribing rate and procedure for imposition of any product fee,
effluent fee, emission fee, user fee or waste disposal fee;

(e) any use of land, cultivation of land and the methods used thereof,
earthworks, hill cutting or land reclamation;

(f) cutting of trees, clearing or destruction of vegetation or setting fire in

any land;

(g) excavation or dredging in watercourses or altering the source and

course of banks or streams;

(h) any discharge of any pollutant into water, watercourses, lakes or sea
and the storage of such pollutant;

(i) any activity relating to the production, storing, treating, transporting or

disposal of waste;

(j) any activity relating to any sewage line, waste water treatment plant,
incineration plant and waste landfill and on the design, operation and
maintenance of such line or plant;

(k) any livestock activity and the disposal of animal and other organic
waste;

(l) any activity relating to the excavation or altering of any geographical

or geological feature;

(m) prescribing the procedure for compounding offences;

(n) prescribing fee to be paid for anything permitted or required to be

done under this Enactment;

(o) regulating and prescribing the practice and procedure of appeal to the
Environment Appeal Board and the fees payable in respect thereof;

(p) regulating and prescribing the practice and procedure for registration
of environmental consultants and the fees payable in respect thereof;

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(q) prescribing the forms to be used for any purpose of this Enactment;
and

(r) generally prescribing such matters as may be necessary for more

effectively carrying out the purposes under this Enactment.

Repeals and savings

61. The Conservation of Environment Enactment 1996 is hereby repealed:

Provided that –

(a) all appointments made and powers and authorities exercised or conferred
under that Enactment shall, so far as they are not inconsistent with the
provisions under this Enactment, be deemed to have been made,
exercised or conferred under this Enactment;

(b) notwithstanding anything contained in this Enactment, any agreement of

environmental conditions entered or environmental impact assessment
report submitted prior and still valid at the date of commencement of this
Enactment shall be deemed to be an agreement of environmental
conditions entered or environmental impact assessment report submitted
under this Enactment;

(c) any order issued under that Enactment and still valid at the date of
commencement of this Enactment shall be deemed to be an order issued
under this Enactment.

CERTIFIED by me to be a true copy of the Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly on

Friday, the 25th day of October, 2002.

DATUK FRANCIS T. N. YAP,

Deputy Speaker,
State Legislative Assembly.

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