KUCHING: Sarawak plans to introduce two new regulations to enhance environmental protection, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Sarawak Premier said the Qualifications and Registration of Accredited External Auditors Rules 2024 and the Flaring and Venting Rules 2024, both under the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance, would be submitted to the state Cabinet this month.
He said the Qualifications and Registration of Accredited External Auditors Rules aimed to establish the qualifications, eligibility criteria and procedures for registering accredited external auditors responsible for verifying greenhouse gas emission reports under the Environmental (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Regulations.
The rules would ensure that auditors are qualified, adhere to a code of conduct and are held accountable for accurate report verification.
The Flaring and Venting Rules, meanwhile, would regulate flaring and venting activities in Sarawak by enforcing strict controls and requiring consent from the controller of the state Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB).
"The flaring cannot go beyond a certain degree. The NREB controller will monitor this," Abang Johari said after launching the state-level National Environment Day celebration here on Wednesday (Oct 23).
He added that the regulations would come into force next year.
In his speech earlier, the Premier said Sarawak was serious about contributing to mitigating climate change.
He said the state was focusing on green energy, including producing hydrogen from water as a renewable substitute for fossil fuel.
"Hydrogen has been described as the cleanest energy by scientists. It can be used in our economic development and diversification," he said.
Abang Johari also agreed to allocate RM13.722mil to NREB over the next six years to set up Kelab Pencinta Alam Sekitar (PALS) in Sarawak schools.
In his speech at the same event, NREB controller Datuk Jack Liam requested the funds to meet its target of having the club in every primary and secondary school by 2030.
So far, the club has been set up in 484 out of 1,461 schools in Sarawak.
"We plan to allocate RM2,000 for each Kelab PALS every year. As such, we will need RM1.4mil next year, RM1.8mil in 2026, RM2.2mil in 2027, RM2.6mil in 2028, RM2.8mil in 2029 and RM2.922mil in 2030," Jack said.
