Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024. (Act A1712).

This Act, consisting of 30 articles, amends the original Act of 1974 with a primary aim to strengthen environmental regulation and enforcement in Malaysia. It introduces a definition of open burning and explicitly prohibits the practice. The amendments enhance penalties for environmental violations, including fines and imprisonment, and clarify legal responsibilities and sanctions for non-compliance. The Act empowers the Director General to issue prohibition and stop-work orders, outlining procedures for compliance and enforcement. It also addresses procedural matters such as the issuance of notices and enforcement of orders, all within a stricter legal framework designed to bolster Malaysia’s environmental protection and regulatory capacity.