Malaysia

From SEA.unu.edu/wiki

from Briffett, C., J. Obbard, J. Mackee (2001) presentation at 20th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Impact Assessment, Hong Kong

Introduction

A research project is being undertaken at the National University of Singapore to investigate the status and potential of strategic environmental assessment in Asia, and to identify the shortcomings in EIA procedures. SEA is designed to determine the environmental integrity of a country's policies, plans and programmes in order to achieve a more sustainable approach to resource development (Therivel,1992). This contrasts with EIA, which is normally conducted for specific projects only. The research project investigates environmental planning policy making, environmental legislation and environmental site control in six countries of Asia. In a comparative review it is intended to evaluate how the use of SEA could overcome the deficiencies of the EIA project-based system. The potential for relating SEA to sustainability criteria is also being researched.This research study seeks to:

• compare and contrast the current environmental impact assessment systems in six Asian countries;
• identify the types and alternative levels of environmental decision-making in the planning and the legislative system and in construction project management practice;
• evaluate the potential for SEA in the region; and
• source case study material on the effectiveness of current EIA practice

Integrated environmental committees across several countries have in recent years produced plans to deal with transboundary pollution (ASEAN,1995). Despite efforts to control several recent environmental disasters in 1997 such as the Indonesian haze and major oil spills the agreements have not been effective in implementation. Solutions to solving these difficulties are in progress. Every country has been reminded of the need to be vigilant in protecting the region's environment and most have ratified the Convention of Biodiversity in response. Failure to do so can have serious consequences for other adjoining countries. New strategic initiatives are needed. This research intends to consider the possibilities. SEA has the potential to influence top decision-makers at the onset of planning proposals that affect an extensive region. It incorporates integrated policy, plan and programme making and includes the need to predict future effects, to design mitigation measures and to develop auditing and monitoring procedures. It also has the ability to take account of possible cumulative and induced environmental impacts arising from developments within a confined geographical region. It is considered to be an appropriate time to evaluate whether SEA could be introduced and managed to solve the major environmental problems being experienced in the region.

The recent economic crisis in Asia reinforces the need at this time to adopt a more precautionary and environmentally friendly approach to developing larger infrastructure projects. Many of these have in the past caused considerable environmental damage and incurred high costs of remedial and restoration works. SEA can assist in identifying and considering a greater variety of alternative options in the development process.

Research Methodology

The scope of the research comprises the newly developed countries of Hong Kong and Singapore, the transitional countries of Malaysia and the Philippines and the relatively undeveloped countries of Vietnam and Sri Lanka. This selection is made on the basis of obtaining useful comparative data between countries at different stages of development. It also recognises the viability of obtaining the required data through known sources and the cost implications of visits to be made.

The main data collection comprises information obtained direct from the subject countries through research investigator interviews with government and non-government groups and the private sector covering environmental consultants, developers and contractors. Academics involved in teaching and research have also been sourced. Other relevant data is being obtained from library and internet locations and from books, conference proceedings and reports. A collection of case study material will eventually form the core part of the study to enable problems arising in the legal, planning and construction decision-making processes to be identified in practice.

Interim Results

So far three countries have been visited and interviews conducted Case study material is also being collected. The three countries are:

   * Sri Lanka Malaysia
   * Singapore

An assessment of the existing EIA system and the potential for SEA is evaluated on a comparative basis in table 1 below. Case studies investigated so far are listed in Table 2.

One aspect that has become clear is that although in each of these countries there is clearly an element of SEA work being done it is not necessarily recognised as such or termed as SEA.

Table 1 Comparative analysis of existing SEA status and potential

Topic	S L	Mal	Sing	Notes
Political Will
National Environment Charter or Code	Ö	Ö	Ö	Sri Lanka National Env. Act 1980Malaysia National Plan 1994-1999 Singapore Green Plan, Action Programmes 1993
Autocratic emphasis	Ö	Ö	Ö	Top down strategic decision making
Stable political regime	X	Ö	Ö	Terrorist insecurity
Independent active Green Party	X	X	X	Support from voters with env. agenda
Legal Mandate
Mandatory EIA	Ö	Ö	X	EIA Act
Mandatory SEA	X	X	X	SEA Act
EA Admin Procedures	Ö	Ö	Ö	EIA voluntary ad hoc provision in various Acts
Integrated environmental legislation	X	Ö	X	Composite amalgamation of all environmental legislation into one Act
Institutional Capacity
Independent Environmental Protection Agency	Ö	Ö	X	Single one stop agency. In Sri Lanka CEA only has an advisory role to project approving agencies. Malaysia DOE MOSTE
Ministry of Environment	Ö	Ö	Ö	Countries Ministries differ in name
Environmental Standards Board	X	Ö	Ö	ISO 14000 accreditation agency
Planning Authority (Land Use planning)	Ö	Ö	Ö	Strategic planning
Master concept planning	X	X	Ö	Singapore has new plan every ten years with detailed development guide plans for every region
Regional (within country) Environmental planning	X	X	X	Decentralisation to the states is poorly effected so far in Malaysia
Integrated cross Ministry environmental assessment	X	X	X	All countries lack evidence of close interaction. In most, other Ministries are invited to comment but this is not subject to discussion
Ecological Assessment
State of the natural environment report (government based)	Ö	Ö	X	In Singapore an NGO has prepared such a document
Assessment of Biodiversity	Ö	Ö	Ö	To conform to the Convention of Biodiversity which all countries have ratified
Annual environmental quality report	Ö	Ö	X	Environmental technology publication on the condition of air, water and soil resources
Ecology based in house advisers to planning agencies	X	X	X
Social Acknowledgement
Mandatory public participation in EIA	?	Ö	?	Malaysia requires public enquiries to be held on all significant projects. Usually ignored at planning stage of policies and projects
Mandatory environmental NGO consultation	Ö	X	X	Sri Lanka requires environmental NGO's to be consulted
Social impact assessments	?	?	X	Only on selected projects and generally lowly rated
Technical Competence
EIA guidelines	Ö	Ö	X	Can cover many sectors including tourism, transport, mining, golf courses, oil installations, coastal reclamation , hill stations etc
SEA Guidelines	X	X	X
Environment---technical guidelines	X	Ö	Ö	Advice on how to deal with waste management, water and air pollution etc
Environmental Assessment Consultant Professional Association	Ö	Ö	?	Singapore has an society for environmental technologists
Environmental project construction management	X	X	X	Responsible and environmentally experienced managers appointed to ensure EIA/SEA requirements are complied with on site
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation System	Ö	Ö	Ö	System devised to check the accuracy of validity of methods used in testing by independent supervisors
EA Process Implementation
Mandatory screening	X	Ö	X	Decision on whether EIA is required
Mandatory scoping	X	X	X	Decision on choice of impacts to be investigated
Baseline data	?	?	?	Insufficient data available on natural resources
Impact prediction	Ö	Ö	X	Usually poorly done
Mitigation	Ö	Ö	X	Implementation generally weak
Auditing	X	X	X	Not normally considered
Mandatory Monitoring	X	X	X	Construction and post construction-ignored
Independent Review of EIA	Ö	Ö	X	By a committee of experts drawn from different institutions including academics and practitioners
Environmental Management Plan	X	Ö	X	Recent mandatory requirement in Malaysia
Educational Awareness
University EIA/SEA courses	Ö	Ö	Ö	Mostly at post graduate level
Practitioner training courses	Ö	Ö	Ö	Often organized by environmental consultants
Environmental Volunteer Groups	Ö	Ö	Ö	Singapore Environment Council
Green NGO's	Ö	Ö	Ö	Usually active in environmental education

Key

Ö Positive

X Negative? Not certain or part onlyCountries SL Sri Lanka Mal Malaysia Sing Singapore

Table 2 Case Study research enquiries

Country SEA characteristics	<P>Sri Lanka	<P>Malaysia	<P>Singapore
<P>SEA Sector based studies	<P>	<P>	<P>
<P>Natural resourcesTransport Waste Energy	<P>National parks and reserves Power Station generation (Mahaweli Scheme)	<P>Offshore Islands Highland Resorts Tuas Bridge	<P>Nature Reserves and National ParksTuas Bridge Offshore Landfill
<P>Housing	<P>	<P>	<P>Senoko public housing Estate
<P>	<P>	<P>	<P>
<P>SEA Area based studies	<P>Colombo Metropolitan Regional Plan	<P>Payainpah Wetlands scheme near Sepang Airport	<P>
<P>SEA Policy based studies	<P>	<P>	<P>

Conclusions

The current research is still in its early stages and full results are not yet available. What have emerged however are the following common trends.

An increasing number of government servants, academics and practitioners are aware of SEA and sustainability as a policy option but do not necessarily fully understand how the concepts can be achieved in practical terms. The further development of locally appropriate sustainability indicators will no doubt assist in realizing the eventual reality of SEA. Many people interviewed confirmed that their country is actively involved in protecting the environment and have implemented plans and prepared programmes to do this. As has happened in the past the implementation stage is fraught with difficulties due to the persuasive power of developers, the personal influences and agendas of politicians and the perceived need of some of the stronger government agencies to develop at any environmental cost. The presence of a mandatory EIA system has not prevented many abuses occurring and should SEA become mandated for in the future there is no reason to believe it will be any better. The benefit that SEA will have in the longer term is that the need for and advantages of environmental assessment will be brought to the closer attention of the major decision makers. SEA will also be considered early enough in the planning and design stages sufficient to influence land use planning, the selection of large infrastructure sites, the technological choices to be made and the policy options to be pursued.

References

ASEAN 1995 Asean co-operation plan on transboundary pollution Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia JuneRIET 1997Environmental management standards and their implications on global trade. Asia Pacific economic co-operation. Regional Institute of Environmental Technology April Singapore Therivel R., E.Wilson, S.Thompson, D.Heaney and D. Pritchard 1992 Strategic Environmental Assessment Earthscan London