TMR

MALAYSIA’S ban on electronic waste (e-waste) imports is seen as a strong environmental stance, but experts caution it could threaten the country’s circular economy ambitions if domestic collection and recycling systems are not rapidly strengthened.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri said improper handling of e-waste has long posed serious environmental and public health risks, including soil and water contamination from toxic metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium.

“When electronic devices are disposed of in landfills or openly burned, toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium could leach into soil and groundwater, contaminating water supplies and harming aquatic ecosystems,” he told an English daily.

He added that burning e-waste, classified as “scheduled waste”, releases hazardous fumes containing dioxins and furans, worsening air pollution and posing severe health risks.

He stressed that exposure to such toxins could result in neurological damage, respiratory illnesses and kidney failure, with children and pregnant women particularly vulnerable.

While the ban aims to prevent Malaysia from becoming a global dumping ground, Muhammad Ammirrul said managing all e-waste domestically presents major challenges.

He said there is a critical mismatch between policy and infrastructure, noting that most of Malaysia’s roughly 128 licensed e-waste facilities are partial recovery plants limited to basic dismantling, with fewer than 20 equipped for full precious metal extraction.

He warned that advanced recovery plants now face a feedstock shortage after imports were cut off, threatening their financial viability.

Describing the ban as a strong legal deterrent against international waste syndicates, he cautioned that it remains a “high-stakes gamble” unless domestic collection rates improve significantly.

“Without foreign supply, high-tech plants risk insolvency unless domestic collection is drastically improved,” he said.

He added that Malaysia must redirect household e-waste into the formal recycling chain to ensure long-term success.

Looking ahead, Muhammad Ammirrul pointed to advanced “urban mining” technologies such as AI-powered sorting, hydrometallurgy and biometallurgy as key to unlocking e-waste’s economic value, while warning that policy instability could deter green investment.

Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13), he said Malaysia must move beyond import bans and build a fully integrated closed-loop system for household e-waste management if it aims to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable resource recovery.

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KOTA KINABALU — The Sabah Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation has drafted and coordinated an Interim Action Plan to address congestion at the Teluk Sapangar Container Port.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick (picture), who is also Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, said the Interim Action Plan is a temporary mitigation measure while waiting for the completion of the ongoing port expansion project.

“The interim plan that has been approved by the (state) Cabinet, focuses on optimising existing capacity, more efficient container flow management, and enforcing port operational regulations,” he said in a statement here today.

Ewon said among the main steps outlined and will be implemented is the creation of additional temporary containers to increase container storage capacity and reduce congestion in the port area.

“This facility is expected to commence operations by the end of March this year, subject to the completion of site preparation works and related operational requirements. 

“Revised container storage tariff rates will also be implemented to encourage faster container clearance, thereby reducing congestion in container storage areas,” he said.

Ewon said that to support the smooth flow of logistics operations, a trailer parking site at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) has been identified for use.

“This initiative is aimed at reducing congestion in the port area as well as to streamline the movement of trailers and containers in and out. All involved transportation companies will be required to fully utilise the Vehicle Booking System (VBS) as part of their operational requirements to arrange vehicle movements in a more planned and controlled manner,” he said.

He also said that overall, the implementation of this interim action plan is important from the perspective of immediate operational needs and its direct impact on reducing congestion.

“The ministry is confident that these measures are capable of maintaining the competitiveness of the Sapangar Bay Container Port, ensuring the continuity of the supply chain, and preserving the confidence of industry players and investors until the expansion of the Sapangar Bay Container Port is fully completed,” he added. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — The Federal Court today dismissed a leave application by Former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong (picture) to review the decision of the previous panel of the Federal Court that upheld his conviction and sentence for the rape of his domestic helper seven years ago.

A three-member Federal Court panel led by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah, in a unanimous decision, said this application failed to meet the high threshold required under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995 for a review to commence.

“We are of the view that parties have been given full opportunity. There is no breach of natural justice. We therefore dismiss the application,” said Justice Hashim.

The other two Federal Court judges presiding on the bench were Justices Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Yong, 55, is currently serving his jail sentence at the Kajang Prison after the Federal Court had on Oct 1, 2025, dismissed his final appeal and upheld his conviction and sentence.

Earlier, Yong’s counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, submitted that Yong should be granted leave to review as the applicant had suffered a grave miscarriage of justice due to his right to be heard being inadvertently denied by the earlier panel. 

He said a breach of natural justice occurred in the case when the learned trial judge had failed to consider Yong’s Section 112 statement in evidence, which was the statement he gave to the police during the investigation.

Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim said the facts and law raised by the applicant had been presented and argued in detail at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court levels before the previous panel.

“It is inappropriate for the questions of fact and law to be re-litigated at this stage. If that is the case, then there is no finality in the proceedings,” he said.

Yong was initially sentenced by the High Court in July 2022 to 13 years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane. In March 2024, the Court of Appeal reduced his prison term to eight years while upholding the corporal punishment.

The High Court found him guilty of raping the 23-year-old Indonesian domestic helper at his Ipoh residence between 8.15 pm and 9.15 pm on July 7, 2019.

In a unanimous ruling dismissing Yong’s final appeal, the Federal Court held that the victim was a credible and convincing witness.

The court also affirmed that the High Court had been correct in accepting her testimony as the basis for the conviction — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The handover-of-duties ceremony for Lieutenant-General Datuk Tengku Muhammad Fauzi Tengku Ibrahim, the new Commander of the Armed Forces Joint Forces (PAB), was held at Wisma Pertahanan here today.

The Joint Forces Headquarters said in a statement that Tengku Muhammad Fauzi, formerly the deputy Army chief, succeeded Lieutenant-General Datuk Zahani Zainal Abidin, who has been appointed chief executive of the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS), effective Jan 1.

Chief of Defence Force General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman witnessed the ceremony, which was also attended by service commanders and senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).

“This appointment was made in line with the recommendation of the 632nd Armed Forces Council (MAT) Meeting, held on Jan 7, and subsequently received the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Jan 18,” the statement said.

The PAB is responsible for coordinating operations and exercises at both national and international levels across all three branches of the MAF. 

Born on Jan 30, 1970, in Kuala Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Fauzi began his military career in 1988 at the Royal Military College and later trained as an officer cadet at the Officer Cadet School, Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute.

He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) on June 6, 1990, following the completion of his training.

During nearly four decades of service, he has held key positions, including commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the RAMD, commander of the 10th Brigade (Para), commander of the 3rd Division, commander of Army Training and Doctrine, and commander of the Army Western Field.

“He has extensive experience in international peacekeeping missions, including NATO deployments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and has taken part in various exercises with foreign armed forces. He has also served as an instructor at the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon, Australia.

“From a professional and academic development perspective, he has attended military courses at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth; the Indonesian National Army Staff and Command School; and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School,” the statement said. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture), who was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for a fractured hip, was allowed to go on “home leave” for two days following a satisfactory level of recovery.

His press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, said the IJN medical team is satisfied with the former prime minister’s recovery level and response to medical measures and physiotherapy.

“Today marks exactly one month since Dr Mahathir was admitted, and on Feb 4 and Feb 5, Dr Mahathir was allowed ‘home leave’, going back to sleep in his own home. In the morning, Dr Mahathir returns to continue with his treatment and undergo observation by the medical team.

“Although allowed to return home in stages, Dr Mahathir remains under the observation of the IJN medical team,” he said in a statement today.

Sufi said Dr Mahathir and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern of all parties, who continue to pray for his health and well-being.

“The medical team has advised Dr Mahathir not to receive any visitors for now, except for close family members,” he said.

The 100-year-old statesman was admitted to the IJN on Jan 6 after reportedly falling at his residence in The Mines, Seri Kembangan, near here, and it was later confirmed that he had sustained a fracture to his right hip. — BERNAMA

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