IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) PROCESS IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.4489Keywords:
Environmental impact assessment (EIA), Malaysian EIA process, mixed method research, qualitative research, quantitative researchAbstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a planning tool to identify, predict and evaluate potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures in the early stages of proposed projects. Although EIA has been implemented in Malaysia for over 25 years, the EIA practices have yet to achieve the parameters of effective environmental management and sustainable development. Hence, this research aims to improve the EIA process in Malaysia. Three objectives were utilised in this research which are to recognise the fundamentals of EIA process and procedures applied in Malaysia, to analyse the issues in relation to the EIA preparation and submission conducted in Malaysia and to propose a set of recommendations to further improve the current EIA process in Malaysia. Mixed methods approach was embarked composed of qualitative instruments via document review and semi-structured interviews and quantitative instrument utilising questionnaire survey. Key issues on the EIA process in Malaysia were gathered from qualitative data collected. Analysis of data collected resulted to recommendations on the key issues regarding EIA. 25 proposed recommendations to improve the EIA process were contextualised and validated via questionnaire survey. Ergo, this research established an improved EIA process in Malaysia towards sustainable development to ameliorate the EIA practices in Malaysia.Â
References
Memon, A. 2000. Devolution of Environmental Regulation: EIA in Malaysia. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 18: 283-293.
Emang, J. J. J. 2006. Public Participant in EIA Process in Sarawak: Any Room for Improvement? The Fourth Sabah-Sarawak Environmental Convention. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. 5-7 September 2006. 1-8.
Moduying, V. J. 2001. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System in Sabah. The 6th Sabah Inter-Agency Tropical Ecosystem (SITE) Research Seminar. Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. 13-14 September 2001. 1-9.
Ho, Y. C. 1986. Determining Projects Requiring Environmental Assessments: Some Thoughts and Approaches. The DOE/CETDEM EIA Workshop. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 9-11 December 1986.
Goh, K. S. 1986. Malaysian Requirement in Environmental Impact Assessment. The DOE/CETDEM Workshop. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 9-11 December 1986.
Briffet, C., Obbard, J. and J. Mackee. 2004. Environment Assessment in Malaysia: A Means To An End Or A New Beginning? Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 22(3): 221-233.
Marzuki, A. 2009. A Review on Public Participation in Environment Impact Assessment in Malaysia. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management. 3(12): 126-135.
Said, A. M. 2008. Environmental Impact Assessment: Post Monitoring and Audit in Malaysia. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia: University Publication Centre (UPENA) UiTM.
Mustafa, M. 2011. The Role of Environmental Impact Assessment in Addressing Marine Environmental Issue Arising from Oil and Gas Activities: Examples from Malaysia. International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering (IPCBEE). 21: 58-62.
Kolhoff, A. J., Driessen, P. P. J. and H. A. C. Runhaar. 2013. An Analysis Framework for Characterizing and Explaining Development of EIA Legislation in Developing Countries- Illustrated for Georgia, Ghana and Yemen. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 38: 1-15.
Wood, C. 2003. Environmental Impact Assessment in Developing Countries: An Overview. The Conference on New Directions in Impact Assessment for Development: Methods and Practice. University of Manchester, Manchester. 24-25 November 2003. 1-28.
Vargas-Vargas, M., Meseguer-SantamarÃa, M. L., Mondéjar-Jiménez, J. and J. A. Mondéjar-Jiménez. 2010. Environmental Protection Expenditure for Companies: A Spanish Regional Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research. 4(3): 373-378.
Author. 2014. A Comparative Study on EIA Process in Malaysia, West Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Jurnal Teknologi. 70(1): 15-22.
Pope, J., Bond, A., Morrison-Saunders, A., and F. Retief. 2013. Advancing the Theory And Practice Of Impact Assessment: Setting The Research Agenda. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 41: 1-9.
Harun, H. and M. Mazlan. 2008. Some Measure to Strengthen the EIA Process-A Consultant's Perspective. The Forum on Environmental Impact Assessment-20 Years On, What Next? 12 August 2008. 1-16.
Maidin, A. J. 2011. Access to Public Participation in the Land Planning and Environmental Decision Making Process in Malaysia. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 1(3): 148-164.
Rahman, H. A. 2011. Public Involvement on Environmental Issues in Malaysia with Reference to Alor Star, Kedah. The 2011 International Conference on Environmental, Biomedical and Biotechnology. Shanghai, China. 19-21 August 2011. 90-93.
Talime, L. A. 2011. A Critical Review of the Quality of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports in Lesotho. (Master of Science in Geography). University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Wangpittaya, A. 2006. Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Thailand-Malaysia Gas Separation Plant Project. Al-Nur Journal of Graduate School Yala Islamic University. 1(1): 129-143.
Omar, D. and O. L. H. Leh. 2009. Malaysian Development Planning System: Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan and Public Participation. Asian Social Science. 5(3): 30-36.
Pölönen, I., Hokkanen, P. and K. Jalava. 2011. The Effectiveness of the Finnish EIA system- What Works, What Doesn't, And What Could Be Improved? Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 31: 120-128.
Lih, L. S. 2013. Malaysia: Country Report. In C. Kaufmann, D. Cohen, K. Tan and D. Lim (eds.). Business and Human Rights in ASEAN: A Baseline Study. Depok, Indonesia: Human Rights Resource Centre, University of Indonesia.
Foo, S. M. and M. R. Yusoff. 2002. Environmental Impact Assessment-Malaysia Perspectives. The SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 20-22 March 2002. 1-10.
Harding, A. 2003. Planning, Environment And Development: A Comparison Of Planning Law In Malaysia and England. Environmental Law Review. 5: 231-255.
Othman, H. A. and R. Suratman. 2002. The Significance of EIA and DPR in the Development Process from the Developer's Viewpoint. The National Land Code Convention 2002. Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2 October 2002. 1-6
Zhang, J., Kørnøv, L. and P. Christensen. 2012. Critical Factors for EIA implementation: Literature Review and Research Options. Journal of Environmental Management. 114: 148-157.
DOE. 2010. Environment Requirements: A Guide for Investors. Putrajaya: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
DOE. 2012a. Mandatory Preliminary Site Assessment for EIA Activities. Putrajaya: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
DOE. 2012b. DOE's Client Charter for the Reviewing of the EIA Report. Putrajaya: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
DOE. 2012c. Reviewing of EIA Report within 3 Weeks (Working Days) by the Department of Environment (DOE), for Selected Prescribed Activities. Putrajaya: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K. and S. J. Silverman. 2011. Research Methods in Physical Activity. United States of America: Human Kinetics.
DiCicco-Bloom, B. and B. F. Crabtree. 2006. The Qualitative Research Interview. Medical Education. 40: 314-321.
Silverman, D. 2011. Interpreting Qualitative Data: A Guide to the Principles of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc.
Yusoff, H. N. 2013. Understanding Environmental Audit in the Public Sector: Malaysian Perspective. Jurnal Teknologi. 62(1): 25–30.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.
