Malaysia releases regulation draft requiring environmental audit

In August 2017, Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, released the draft of Environmental Quality (Environmental Audit) Regulations 201X for public comment. The proposed regulations were reviewed under Section 33A Environmental Audits of the Environmental Quality Act of 1974.

Under the proposed regulation, the director general of the department may require the owner or occupant of a covered facility to conduct an environmental audit and submit a report in accordance with the Environmental Audit Guidance Manual (the owner or occupant of facility shall bear all costs associated). A qualified auditor must be commissioned to conduct the audit and submit the report to DOE. The facility subject to audit must also submit a Corrective Action Report to DOE based on the audit results.

The Environmental Audit Guidance Manual is available at:
https://www.doe.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Environmental_Audit_Manual_Draft_91.8-final-edited-19Oct111.pdf

View the original text of Environmental Quality Act of 1974 at:
https://www.doe.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Environmental_Quality_Act_1974_-_ACT_127.pdf