KUALA LUMPUR: Amending the Mineral Development Act is crucial to ensure the mining industry is up to current standards and sustainable.
Natural Resources and Envionmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said there are limitations to the existing laws and this made the amendment all the more important.
He said despite utilising provisions under the existing law to compel state governments to address issues in the mining sector, much of these obstacles can be removed if the law was amended at federal-level.
"We are currently using all available powers under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, and we also bring these matters up under the National Land Council and National Mineral Council to emphasise to the states about the importance of sustainable mining.
"There are still limitations to that, hence amending the Mineral Development Act is crucial", Nazmi said when contacted by the New Straits Times.
The PAC's other recommendations include continued cooperation with the ministry on a non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) mining pilot project in Kenering, Perak that began in 2023 and improving enforcement against landslides and forest encroachment at the state level.
Another point brought up by the PAC is staffing requirements to ensure adequate human resources in the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
"We require additional staff in the Department of Environment, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, and the Wildlife and National Parks Department but the government has budgetary constrains", he elaborated.
Meanwhile, the ministry have expanded its community rangers programme, by contracting military and police veterans as well as Orang Asli, and utilize technology to enhance enforcement.
Earlier today, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin recommended that the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry amend the Mineral Development Act 1994 to enable enforcement against illegal mining.
This is because, under the act, legal action can only be taken against lawful mining activities, while illegal mining falls under the jurisdiction of the state governments.
The PAC's other recommendation was on continued cooperation with the ministry on a non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) mining pilot project in Kenering, Perak that began in 2023 and improving enforcement against landslides and forest encroachment at the state level.
Another point brought up by the PAC is staffing requirements to ensure adequate human resources in the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
On the staffing requirements, Nik Nazmi agreed with the PAC's recommendation but admitted there was issues with costs.
"We require additional staff in the Department of Environment, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, and the Wildlife and National Parks Department but the government has budgetary constrains", he said.
Nik Nazmi said the ministry have also expanded its community rangers programme, by contracting military and police veterans as well as Orang Asli, and utilises technology to enhance enforcement.