How did past ministry structures hinder environmental governance in Malaysia?

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Past Ministry Structures Fragmented Environmental Governance in Malaysia

Previous ministerial structures in Malaysia hindered holistic environmental governance by separating key sectors such as pollution control, natural resources, and water management. Historically, the Environment Ministry's direct authority was primarily limited to pollution control under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. This fragmentation created significant challenges in addressing complex environmental issues that spanned across different portfolios, leading to disjointed policy implementation and coordination difficulties.
Natural Resources and Pollution Control Were Segregated

Under ministry structures such as MESTECC and KASA, the natural resources sector, encompassing forestry and wildlife conservation, was distinct from the environment sector responsible for pollution control. This separation made it difficult to effectively address issues like habitat destruction stemming from pollution, for instance, the impact of plastic waste on marine life. Furthermore, the climate change agenda, which is intrinsically linked to forestry's role as a carbon sink, became fragmented due to this division.
Water Sector Was Disconnected from Environmental Oversight

The separation of the water sector from the environment sector under previous NRE and MESTECC frameworks created ambiguity regarding jurisdiction over river-related issues. This led to considerable coordination challenges in managing river pollution, a problem often complicated by the involvement of state governments. This was particularly evident in water-scarce regions like the Klang Valley, where water supply systems have a low reserve margin.
Decades of Disjointed Environmental Management

The fragmentation of environmental governance in Malaysia has been an ongoing issue for several decades. This disjointed approach meant that issues related to land management, which influences soil and non-point source water pollution, were also complicated by the separation of land management responsibilities from pollution control mandates. The lack of a unified structure meant that inter-ministerial coordination consumed valuable time and resources.

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How did past ministry structures hinder environmental governance in Malaysia?

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