Malaysian Government Fails Again – e-Waste Crisis or Just Another Day in Paradise?

Well, well, well. It seems that the Madani government has decided to give us all a little lesson in "How to Make a Big Mess and Get Away With It." The latest exhibit of this masterpiece? The shocking revelation that Department of Environment (DOE) officers attempted to release illegal e-waste consignments at Port Klang. Yes, you read that right. They tried to let a truckload of toxic trash slip through the cracks. Just another Tuesday for us, I suppose.

Now, before you start thinking that this is some sort of misunderstanding or a “one-off incident,” let me assure you that this is just the tip of the e-waste iceberg. According to the esteemed *Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC)*, these officers didn’t even bat an eyelash while trying to let through 111 containers of illegal electronic waste from countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Because who needs to worry about international environmental laws when you can just get paid to look the other way?

I mean, who doesn’t love a good shipment of electronic junk, right? It’s practically a freebie! Except it’s not, of course. It’s literally the kind of waste that could poison the air, water, and soil for generations. But hey, let’s not get bogged down by pesky details like health and environmental safety. After all, this is Malaysia, where even the air is filled with a hint of "maybe tomorrow will be better."

What’s even more amusing is the government's grand strategy to solve this problem. Apparently, the DOE was supposed to stop this illegal e-waste trade in its tracks. But it seems the officers in charge of stopping this environmental disaster are more interested in stopping for a coffee break (or whatever it is that civil servants do when they aren’t… you know… actually working).

And let’s not forget the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change – who, bless his heart, made all the right noises. The minister went on national TV and called for "swift action" and "zero tolerance" against illegal e-waste imports. But when it comes to the actual enforcement part, it's more like "zero action" and "unlimited tolerance." I guess their idea of swift action is trying to release 111 containers of toxic waste into the country before anyone notices. Real stealthy.

But here’s the punchline: when questioned about these releases, the DOE said, “Oops, sorry, we missed that.” Well, that’s comforting. It’s not like environmental disasters are a big deal or anything. Just a few more containers of hazardous materials to throw into the mix. Maybe we can use it to fertilize our fields, right?

So, to all the dunggus in charge – congratulations on your complete failure to enforce any kind of regulation. In fact, let's give them a standing ovation for their exceptional ability to look the other way while our environment gets trashed. It’s not every day you get to see such mastery in action.

Those of us who are actually concerned about the environment have been foaming at the mouth ad nauseum about repealing or modifying the Basel Convention and using modern green technology to process e-waste in a controlled environment. You can read about it in my previous post.  

As for the rest of us? Well, I suppose we’ll continue living in a country where nothing really works, except of course the imported e-waste. Keep it coming, folks! The future is so bright, you’ll need a hazmat suit to survive it.

PS Don't forget to recycle your electronics responsibly. Because apparently, we can’t trust the government to do it for you.

The Basel Treaty: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes

 

Let’s face it: Malaysia has a golden opportunity to become the recycling and circular economy powerhouse of Southeast Asia. But there's a roadblock that’s keeping us from fully capitalizing on it -the Basel Treaty.

This agreement, a 1989 global accord meant to prevent rich nations from dumping their toxic waste on the developing world, has shackled Malaysia’s potential in a way that’s almost as absurd as a Kancil (the animal, not the car) on a treadmill.

Sure, it sounds noble to say "Let’s not pollute the developing world with hazardous waste," but in reality, the treaty is now preventing us from leveraging e-waste in a controlled, eco-friendly way.

Here's why the dunggus in the Malaysian government must repeal or amend the Basel Treaty to allow the import of e-waste in a controlled environment.

Those who know me know my economics background so first, let’s talk numbers. Malaysia is swimming in a sea of e-waste - old phones, computers, TVs, laptops, you name it. The global volume of e-waste is growing at an alarming rate and Asia is at the center of this booming disaster.

But here’s the kicker: while countries like Japan and South Korea are thriving by efficiently recycling and reusing e-waste, Malaysia is stuck on the sidelines due to its limited ability to import and process electronic waste.

Actually, Malaysia has a ton of potential to tap into this market. With proper infrastructure and regulation, we can turn e-waste into resources like valuable metals, rare earth elements and plastics.

Rather than our usual SOP of throwing our hands up in the air and saying, "Well, that's someone else’s problem," we could be cashing in by establishing ourselves as the region’s e-waste recycling hub.

If we amend the Basel Treaty, Malaysia could import, process and recycle e-waste, creating an industry worth billions. That’s greener than just a rainforest, folks - it's money, jobs and sustainable growth.

Let’s give credit where credit is due: the treaty was designed with good intentions. In the late 80s, the global community was witnessing the rise of environmental disasters caused by the illegal dumping of toxic waste in developing countries. The treaty sought to prevent that, and in theory it was a good idea.

But here’s the catch: in its current form, it’s so restrictive that it ties Malaysia’s hands when it comes to processing e-waste in a responsible, regulated manner.

The treaty prohibits the import of hazardous waste ie any form of e-waste that is deemed "hazardous" based on its contents. The problem? Everything has some trace of “hazardous” material in it.

Lead in old phones? Yup. Mercury in certain screens? Sure. Arsenic in some electronic components? Definitely. But that doesn’t mean we need to shove all that waste into a landfill, let it rot in some foreign backyard or heaven forbid burn it.

The Malaysian government is currently stuck in a limbo between trying to stay Basel-compliant and trying to manage the e-waste problem responsibly.

Guess what? We’re losing out. We need to acknowledge that e-waste is not the boogeyman, it’s a resource waiting to be transformed. By creating a controlled, transparent and regulated environment, Malaysia can turn e-waste into revenue, not disaster.

The circular economy is the future and Malaysia is sitting on the front row of the most incredible show no one has bothered to watch yet.

If Malaysia were to amend or repeal the Basel Treaty’s restrictions on e-waste, we would not only open the floodgates to massive economic benefits but also establish ourselves as environmental champions.

Think about it: more e-waste would come in for processing, which would give us access to precious metals like gold, silver and copper, resources that are increasingly scarce. In short, we’d be turning sampah into permata.

More e-waste processing also means more jobs in the green tech economy. Malaysians could work in everything from waste sorting and electronics repair to advanced recycling operations.

And the best part? We wouldn’t need to import more raw materials or engage in destructive mining practices. We’d be recycling, not just reusing and that’s a huge win for sustainability.

 A controlled e-waste import scheme would help us solve a major environmental problem - illegal e-waste recycling and dumping. Without a legal framework for handling and recycling this waste, rogue operators have been able to smuggle in junk under the radar,  leading to hazardous processing in unregulated facilities.

 By opening the doors to proper e-waste management, we’d cut out these shady operators and ensure that recycling happens the right way, not the burn it and poison the air way.

 There’s no two ways about it – the dunggus in the Malaysian government need to amend or repeal the Basel Treaty’s outdated restrictions on e-waste.

 Not only does it open the door for sustainable growth, it also gives Malaysia the chance to lead the charge in the circular economy revolution. We don’t need to be afraid of e-waste; we need to be smart about it. Let’s turn it into something valuable, something that creates jobs, reduces pollution, and, let’s be honest - makes Malaysia an environmental powerhouse in the process.

Malaysia dancing joget on the subject of e-waste

 

I am reproducing an article in full from today’s (2^nd October 2024) NST:

         

DoE intensifies crackdown on illegal e-waste, enhances cooperation with other agencies

 

PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Environment (DoE) is strengthening its collaboration with various agencies to tackle the issue of illegal electronic waste (e-waste).

 The department's director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the department is working with the Customs Department, the state government, local authorities and the police.

He said there had been an influx of e-waste entering Malaysia illegally, in violation of the Basel Convention.

"It enters through false declarations, not as e-waste and when it arrives, it goes to illegal facilities. "This has become a significant issue recently.

"Therefore, we are compelled to seek cooperation from the Customs Department regarding e-waste at the ports, while the state government, local councils and the police for illegal e-waste processing factories," he said during a media briefing on the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 and the EIA today (Oct 2).

He said the department received seven reports of illegal e-waste factories, with three each in Selangor and Pahang and one in Kedah, this year.

He said e-waste must be disposed of at licensed premises, which the license issued by the department and the respective local councils.

As of last month, there are 17 licensed e-waste factories and 106 semi-e-waste factories.

Meanwhile, when asked on a news report of inaction by the department on illegal e-waste factories at Teluk Gong, Klang, Wan Abdul Latiff dismissed the allegation.

"Out of 23 factories, which had been reported as illegal, only three were found to be illegal based on inspection conducted.

"Enforcement actions have been taken against the factories, and any violations found under our Act will be addressed.

"At the same time, relevant agencies should also take action under their respective jurisdiction," he said, adding that some of the cases would be brought to court.

Recently, a local Malay daily reported that Teluk Gong was experiencing pollution from numerous industrial waste processing factories suspected of operating illegally.

 

Here are my comments – My buddy Dave Avran who runs the NGO called A Greener Malaysia has publicly stated that there are more than 200 illegal e-waste processing factories which have been identified in Malaysia, mostly in the Rawang and Hulu Selangor areas.

Which means that in all probability there are another 400 illegal e-waste processing factories blatantly operating involving elements of crime, misuse of power and corruption. Not my words but words coming from MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Which means that the dunggu who made the statement in the above article "Out of 23 factories, which had been reported as illegal, only three were found to be illegal based on inspection conducted” has no clue what is coming out of his mouth.

What our dunggus in the Madani government need to do is shake off their stupor and take a long hard look at their 30-year-old outdated stance on the Basel Convention. There is a critical need for a robust legal framework to support the establishment of legitimate green e-waste recycling facilities in Malaysia.   

Creating this framework allows green e-waste plants to operate effectively includes permitting the import of e-waste into centralized industrial parks that are adequately guarded and monitored by the relevant enforcement authorities. This would ensure that e-waste is processed safely and sustainably, preventing environmental contamination.

The adoption of green e-waste processing technology in Malaysia presents significant economic advantages. There is the potential for job creation within the green technology sector, opportunities for technology transfer and the economic uplift from licensing and taxation as key benefits. The economic advantages of legalizing and monitoring proper green e-waste processing are substantial. Advancements in green technology now enable the remnants from e-waste processing to be repurposed into construction materials such as bricks and tiles, reducing the depletion of natural resources.