Focus on Environment

<strong>Focus</strong> on Environment
Challenges and Perspectives for Sustainable Development <strong>Focus</strong> Environ (2016), P51-59
Environmental Legislations in Malaysia: A
Protection to Public Health
Haslinda Mohd Anuar
School of Law, College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS), Universiti
Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
Phone No.: +6 04-9288106; Email: haslinda@uum.edu.my
ABSTRACT
The importance between human and environment was first recognized by Stockholm Declaration
in 1972. This interdependent was further developed by Rio Declaration 1992 whereby the
concept of sustainable development was widely introduced. Although the main theme was
‘development’, Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration proclaims that ‘Human beings are at the
centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life
in harmony with nature’. Rio Declaration 1992 was further strengthened with Rio +20 in 2012
whereby more agenda have been defined ‘to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more
prosperous world for all’. In Malaysia, various legislations and national policies have been
implemented to achieve sustainable development including with enactment of Environmental
Quality Act 1974; Dasar Alam Sekitar Negara; and Dasar Perubahan Iklim Negara as the basis
of environmental management. However, there are more than forty environmental related
legislations been enforced by various government agencies in Malaysia. Furthermore, in 2013,
during the Third Ministerial Regional Forum on Environment and Health in South East and East
Asian Countries held in Kuala Lumpur member countries agreed to cooperate to develop and
implement National Environmental Health Action Plans (NEHAP) that aims ‘to put sustainable
environment and health at the centre of development, and that will result in sustainability and
improvements in environmental quality, and enhancement of public health, and ensure the health
of the future generations in the region’. This chapter will discuss primarily the development of
environmental legislations including the national policies in Malaysia which aim to protect the
public health.
Keywords: Environment; health; legislation; policy.
INTRODUCTION
Clean air, clean water, fertile soil and
functioning ecosystems are the integral part
of human survival and well-being, and it
was argued by many scholars that these
elements should be considered as part of
rights to life and health (Boyd, 2011;
Weissbrodt, 2007; Dowdeswell, 1994).
According to the World Health
Organization, approximately one-quarter of
the entire burden of disease globally is
ISBN: 978-967-14475-0-5; eISBN: 978-967-14475-1-2 51