The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry has submitted a proposal to classify electronic waste (e-waste) under the absolute prohibition category of the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023.
According to the report by NST, its minister, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, said the proposal, submitted to the Finance Ministry and the Customs Department, aims to move e-waste to the First Schedule of the order.
He said e-waste is currently listed under the Second Schedule, which allows importation provided an approved permit (AP) is obtained from the relevant authorities.
“The government takes any illegal importation of scheduled waste seriously as it threatens environmental safety and public health.
“We will not compromise with any party attempting to smuggle e-waste into the country,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
According to Department of Environment records, Malaysia generated 597,260 tonnes of e-waste between 2020 and 2024.’ Of this total, 586,605 tonnes were produced by the industrial sector, while 10,654 tonnes were generated by households
