Larangan import sisa elektronik disambut baik/Welcome ban on e-waste imports

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) dan Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) menyambut baik pengumuman oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) bahawa Malaysia telah mengenakan larangan mutlak dengan segera ke atas import sisa elektronik (e-waste) berkuat kuasa 4 Februari.

Dilaporkan bahawa mesyuarat kedua pasukan petugas khas hala tuju pengurusan penguatkuasaan pengimportan sisa plastik dan e-waste turut membincangkan cadangan moratorium tiga bulan ke atas import sisa plastik.

Langkah ini adalah perlu untuk melindungi alam sekitar dan kesihatan awam, di samping mengingatkan dunia bahawa Malaysia bukanlah tapak pelupusan.

Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM Azam Baki dilaporkan berkata bahawa penguatkuasaan yang tegas dan tersusun oleh semua agensi berkaitan amat penting untuk memastikan keberkesanan larangan itu.

Kami bersetuju dengannya kerana penyeludupan sisa menimbulkan risiko yang serius kepada negara kita.

Konvensyen Basel mengenai Kawalan Pergerakan Rentas Sempadan Sisa Berbahaya dan Pelupusannya melarang pembuangan sisa elektronik oleh negara-negara perindustrian ke negara membangun atau ekonomi yang sedang berkembang.

Pada tahun 2025, peraturan baharu mula berkuat kuasa di mana semua sisa elektronik yang diperdagangkan tertakluk kepada kawalan antarabangsa bagi persetujuan dimaklumkan terlebih dahulu, bukan hanya yang dilabel sebagai “sisa berbahaya”.

Di pelabuhan masuk di Malaysia, penghantaran sisa haram mungkin terlepas pandang, mungkin kerana penghantaran itu diisytiharkan sebagai barangan yang dibenarkan, barangan terpakai, barangan elektronik terpakai atau skrap logam bercampur.

Terdapat juga elemen jenayah terancang dan rasuah dalam memudahkan penyeludupan sisa.

Komponen elektronik dan elektrik mengandungi logam berat dan banyak bahan berbahaya.

Oleh itu, pembuangan sisa elektronik dan aktiviti kitar semula haram adalah berbahaya kepada alam sekitar dan mengancam kesihatan pekerja serta komuniti sekitar kerana ia melepaskan bahan pencemar beracun yang mencemarkan udara, tanah, habuk dan air.

Pembakaran terbuka dan pemanasan sisa elektronik sangat berbahaya kerana pelepasan asap toksik.

Kami telah menemui cebisan sisa elektronik yang dibuang dengan secara sewenang-wenangnya dan apabila ia terbakar akan melepaskan asap toksik.

Komuniti yang terdedah kepada pencemaran ini menghadapi risiko yang meningkat bagi penyakit sistem pernafasan, malah risiko kanser dalam jangka panjang.

Penyakit kronik yang berkaitan dengan pendedahan sisa elektronik memerlukan penjagaan perubatan jangka panjang yang meningkatkan perbelanjaan kesihatan awam dan mengurangkan produktiviti.

Penguatkuasaan yang tegas sama pentingnya dengan undang-undang yang kuat.

Malaysia perlu memastikan penguatkuasaan melalui prosedur kastam yang kukuh, kawalan sempadan, pelaksanaan pemeriksaan yang teliti, meningkatkan pemeriksaan rawak dan tersasar ke atas penghantaran, membanteras rasuah, mengenakan hukuman berkesan bagi pelanggaran dan memastikan pendakwaan pesalah dilakukan dengan pantas dan telus.

Hukuman bagi penyeludupan sisa mestilah setimpal dengan kerosakan alam sekitar dan kesan kepada kesihatan awam.

Garis panduan bagi pergerakan rentas sempadan peralatan elektrik dan elektronik terpakai di Malaysia menyediakan panduan dan kriteria bagi tujuan pergerakan rentas sempadan peralatan elektrik dan elektronik terpakai atau komponennya untuk kegunaan semula secara langsung, penggunaan semula, pembaikan dan pengubahsuaian. Ia perlu dinilai semula dan kelemahannya ditangani kerana pengimportan peralatan elektrik dan elektronik terpakai kini dibenarkan atas nama “barangan terpakai” atau “boleh dibaiki” walaupun sebenarnya ia adalah e-waste.

Pengumpulan sisa elektronik di Malaysia secara domestik perlu dipertingkatkan untuk memastikan bekalan bahan mentah mencukupi bagi kilang kitar semula sisa elektronik berlesen yang telah ditubuhkan.

Pihak berkuasa berkaitan mestilah memastikan kilang kitar semula sisa ini mematuhi undang-undang.

Pihak berkuasa tempatan juga sepatutnya berwaspada dan mengambil tindakan terhadap kilang haram dan pembuangan sisa haram di kawasan mereka.

Beberapa aktiviti haram ini telah dilaporkan oleh komuniti berdekatan. Pihak berkuasa tempatan dan agensi penguatkuasaan perlu bertindak atas maklumat ini dan juga bersikap proaktif dalam meronda untuk mendedahkan operasi haram.

Pembersihan dan pemulihan tanah dan air yang tercemar memerlukan kos yang tinggi.

Hasil tanaman yang berkurangan akibat tanah yang tidak sihat, aliran toksik ke sungai dan perairan pantai yang meracuni hidupan air juga mengancam sumber pendapatan petani dan nelayan kita.

Siapa yang akan membayar semua ini, dan mengapa komuniti kita perlu menderita dari segi kesihatan dan mata pencarian mereka?

Inilah sebabnya kami menggesa untuk menghentikan perdagangan sisa, dan tindakan penguatkuasaan yang tegas perlu diambil untuk membanteras penyeludupan dan pembuangan sisa. – SAM/CAP

English version

Groups welcome ban on e-waste imports and urge strict measures to curb smuggling

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) welcome the announcement by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that Malaysia has imposed an immediate and absolute ban on imports of electronic waste effective 4 February.

It was reported that the second meeting of the special task force on the enforcement management roadmap for plastic and e-waste imports also discussed a proposed three-month moratorium on imports of plastic waste.

These measures are necessary to protect our environment and public health, besides reminding the world that Malaysia is not a dumping ground.

MACC Chief Azam Baki was quoted as saying that firm and coordinated enforcement by all relevant agencies are essential to ensure the ban’s effectiveness.

We agree with him as waste trafficking poses serious risks to our country. Waste smugglers have no qualms about violating the law, bribing officials or looking into possible loopholes. Hence, vigilance and stringent enforcement are key to curbing smuggling.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal prohibits the dumping of e-waste by industrialised countries to developing or emerging economies.

In 2025, new rules came into force: all e-waste traded is subject to international controls of prior informed consent, not only those labelled as “hazardous wastes”.

At the ports of entry in Malaysia, illegal waste shipments may slip under the radar, possibly because shipments are declared as permissible goods, second-hand goods, used electronic goods or mixed metal scrap.

There is also the element of organised crime and corruption in facilitating waste trafficking.

Electronic and electrical components contain heavy metals and many toxic substances.

Hence, e-waste dumping and illegal recycling activities are hazardous to the environment and threaten the health of workers and neighbouring communities, as they release toxic pollutants that contaminate the air, soil, dust and water.

We also have to deal with the consequences of microplastics generated during the recycling process that ultimately infiltrate water bodies.

Open burning and heating of e-waste are very hazardous due to the release of toxic fumes.

We have encountered shredded e-waste dumped haphazardly and when these ignite, the fires spread toxic fumes.

Communities exposed to the pollution face increasing risks of respiratory illness and even long-term cancer risks.

Chronic illnesses linked to e-waste exposure require long-term medical care which increases public healthcare spending and reduces productivity.

Strong enforcement is as important as strong laws. Malaysia needs to ensure enforcement with robust customs procedures, border controls. It has to implement rigorous inspection, increase random and targeted inspections of shipments, crack down on corruption, impose effective penalties for violations and ensure swift and transparent prosecution of offenders.

The penalties for waste smuggling must match the environmental harm and public health impacts.

The guidelines for the transboundary movement of used electrical and electronic equipment in Malaysia provide guidance and criteria for the purpose of transboundary movement of used electrical and electronic equipment or its components for direct reuse, reuse, repairing and refurbishment. These guidelines should be assessed and loopholes closed because shipments are allowed as “second-hand goods” or “repairable” to mask waste.

Malaysia’s e-waste collection domestically has to be enhanced to ensure enough feedstock for the established licensed e-waste recycling plants. The relevant authorities must ensure these waste recycling facilities comply with the law.

Local authorities should also be vigilant and take action against illegal factories and illegal dumping in their area. Some of these illegal activities are reported by neighbouring communities. The local authorities and enforcement agencies should act on these tip-offs and be proactive in patrolling to uncover illegal operations.

The cleanup and remediation of contaminated soil and water incur high costs. Reduced crop yields due to unhealthy soil, toxic runoff into rivers and coastal waters which poison aquatic life also threaten the livelihoods of our farmers and fishers.

Who is going to pay for all this, and why should our communities suffer in terms of their health and livelihoods?

This is why we have been calling for an end to waste trade and for strong enforcement action to be taken to curb the smuggling and dumping of waste.

Mohideen Abdul Kader is the president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang. Meenakshi Raman is the president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

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