Nik Nazmi: Climate change bill postponed, back to drawing board

 

PARLIAMENT | A bill on climate change, which the previous government planned to table in the Dewan Rakyat early this year, has been postponed for several years.

Last September, the then environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Perikatan Nasional-Kubang Kerian) was reported as saying the bill was being finalised and would be tabled this year.

However, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad indicated that the bill has gone back to the drawing board.

During the winding-up speech of his ministry in Dewan Rakyat today, Nik Nazmi (above) said the bill is in the early stages of development and that it has a long road ahead.

“The development of this bill is expected to take two to three years.

“The development of the bill will adopt the whole-of-nation approach that includes the process of engaging with relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Nik Nazmi was replying to a request from Young Syefura Othman (Pakatan Harapan-Bentong) for the government to explain its direction on the enactment of a climate change act that sets targets for carbon emissions and forest coverage by 2040.

Earlier, he said legislation related to climate change is among the measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across various economic sectors, including forestry. 

He added that the main purpose for an act to be enacted is to fulfil the obligation to reduce GHG emissions and to catalyse the country’s economy towards low carbon.

Nik Nazmi also reiterated the country’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions under the Paris Agreement.

Air pollution caused by greenhouse gas

“This will be executed through its nationally determined contributions to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions across the economy by 45 percent (based on the country’s gross domestic product) by 2030 as compared to 2005. 

“Malaysia has also announced its aspiration to be a nation with net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.” 

Govt to study raising domestic water tariff

Meanwhile, responding to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse’s (Harapan-Tebrau) question on his ministry’s efforts to educate the people to reduce water consumption, Nik Nazmi said the government will study the need to raise domestic water tariffs. 

He admitted that the domestic water tariff rate may be too low and could have led to wastage and excessive consumption of water.

“Yes, our water consumption is very, very high. This matter will take time because it has become a habit. 

“When the water tariff is too low, it puts pressure on water companies and also causes the people to not be appreciative of the value of water. 

“Last year, under the previous government, the non-domestic water tariff was approved to be raised. The next stage is for the government to review the domestic tariff,” Nik Nazmi said. 

Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau)

Puah said that based on statistics from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Malaysians use an average of 201 litres of water per person per day. 

He pointed out this has exceeded the United Nations recommendation by 20 percent.

The data also shows that the country’s water consumption rate per capita is much higher compared to neighbouring countries such as Thailand (193 litres per day) and Singapore (151 litres). - Mkini