Kuala lumpur: The Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2026 will enable Sabah and Sarawak to be given legislative authority in the management of scheduled waste, in line with Article 95C of the Federal Constitution. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup stated that the eighth amendment to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) grants autonomy to the two states in implementing certain provisions under the act. This amendment aligns with the decision of the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) meeting on April 14, 2022. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the State Governments of Sabah and Sarawak, discussed granting authority to manage and regulate scheduled waste on land or in the waters of the states concerned. "The proposed amendment not only aims to strengthen the governance of scheduled waste disposal management but also reflects the commitment of the MADANI G overnment in fulfilling its obligations and strengthening the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The rights and powers of autonomy specifically allocated to Sabah and Sarawak have always been preserved and even improved in line with what was agreed upon during the formation of Malaysia a long time ago... this amendment is in line with the spirit of federalism in the Federal Constitution," Arthur said when tabling the Bill for second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today. Arthur added that since 2022, various actions have been implemented, including the organisation of engagement sessions, workshops, and meetings with the active participation of the Sabah and Sarawak State Governments to ensure that the implementation of the empowerment runs smoothly and achieves the set goals. The Bill, tabled on February 11, aims to amend Section 1 of Act 127 to include a new subsection (3) giving the minister the power to suspend the operation of the entire or any provision of the Act in different parts of Malaysia .