KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974, parts of which are still being refined, are expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in October.
Deputy Environment and Water Minister Datuk Mansor Othman said the amendments would, among others, strengthen regulations related to air, noise, soil and water pollution.
"We want to expedite this amendment in the interest of the country and the people and we hope for it to be tabled in October (this year).
"Clause 2 of the act is being refined by relevant stakeholders through various engagement sessions," he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Mansor was responding to a supplementary question by Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Bakri), who asked about the status of the amendments.
Mansor said the ministry was amending the act in phases, where the first phase involved compounds, penalties and standards. This was expected to be tabled in Parliament in October.
As for the second phase, Mansor said the act would be further refined by environmental and legal experts from the public and private sectors, who would be involved in multiple engagement sessions.
"This amendment (under the secpnd phase) is expected to be completed by 2025."