Kuching: The passing of the Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill 2025 at the Sarawak state legislative assembly today is a significant step towards strengthening the state's environmental governance and modernising waste-recovery practices.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, in tabling the Bill, said it advances the state's environmental sustainability, circular economy, and energy transition agenda, in line with the Premier's vision of turning waste into economic value. Uggah highlighted that Sarawak's natural resources and climate position the state to build a robust bioenergy industry, utilizing diverse biomass feedstocks such as palm oil residues, woody biomass, sago waste, and municipal solid waste.
He explained that what was once considered waste is now seen as a valuable resource for energy generation and value-added industries. Under the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), bioenergy is expected to contribute around 10 million standard cubic feet, measured as natural gas equivalent, by 2035. The Bill, debated by 24 assemblymen, received majority support.
Uggah, who serves as Sarawak's Second Minister of Finance and New Economy and Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, noted the significant potential of the oil palm sector. Currently, 84 palm oil mills in Sarawak process about 22 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches annually, generating approximately four million tonnes of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and 14 million tonnes of palm oil mill effluent (POME) each year. These byproducts can be converted into bio-based products such as biogas, biofuels, biomass pellets, and biochemicals.
Additionally, Sarawak is evaluating the feasibility of converting coal-fired power plants to biomass operations and exploring municipal solid waste-to-energy projects under the SET-P, the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint, and the Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
Uggah emphasized that the new regulatory framework aligns with Sarawak's constitutional authority to legislate on matters related to land, water, forestry, and local government. The Bill also establishes an authority to regulate, coordinate, and promote sustainable resources and waste management across the state.
The minister responsible for implementing the Bill will oversee energy and environmental sustainability. Despite Sarawak's vast biomass potential, current utilization is limited due to unattractive feed-in tariffs, high capital costs, logistical challenges, and insufficient infrastructure. To address these, the Bill creates the Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Authority to oversee waste management efforts.
The Authority will issue guidelines, approve projects, promote investment and innovation, conduct enforcement activities, and provide incentives for sustainable waste management. The Bill outlines penalties for non-compliance, including fines of RM20,000 to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. The enactment of the Bill aims to regulate sustainable resources and waste more effectively, enhancing Sarawak's long-term environmental governance.