06/02/2026

FRIDAY | FEB 6, 2026

5

‘E-waste ban needs support’

Three children drown in sewage pond

o Long-term success hinges on managing domestic collection: Expert

SIBU: Three children, including two siblings, drowned after they were believed to have fallen into a sewage pond near the Sibu Jaya Flats. The victims were identified as Macx Devdynne Sharie Merdeka, aged 12; her younger brother Macx Welwait Merdeka, aged nine and their neighbour, Daniella Arissa Tayas Maringgai, aged 10. In a statement, the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call at 4.03pm on Wednesday. Firefighters from the Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue Station were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, personnel found that the children had already been brought to the edge of the pond by members of the public. Medical officers later confirmed that all three died at the scene. Meanwhile, Sibu Zone Fire and Rescue Department chief Andy Alie said the sewage pond is located about 100m from the residential area and is fenced. However, he said parts of the fence were damaged and had openings that allowed easy access, especially for children. He believed the trio had entered the area to play before the incident occurred. Andy advised parents and guardians to be more vigilant and to closely monitor their children, particularly in high-risk areas such as ponds, construction sites and drains. He also urged the relevant authorities to carry out regular inspections and strengthen safety measures at high-risk locations to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The bodies were later handed over to police for further action. – Bernama One killed, seven injured in three-vehicle crash KUALA LUMPUR: A man was killed and seven others, including a young girl, were injured in a crash involving an express bus and two lorries at Km433 of the North-South Expressway southbound near Rawang yesterday. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the deceased was the driver of a bonded lorry who was trapped inside the vehicle. “The man was pronounced dead by a Health Ministry medical officer at the scene before being handed over to the police for further action.” He said the injured comprised five bus passengers – four men, one of them seriously hurt and a young girl – a 39-year-old attendant of the bonded lorry and the trailer driver. All the injured were sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital. He added that 31 individuals were involved in the incident: 16 men, five women and seven children from the express bus, two men from the bonded lorry and one man from the trailer lorry. Ahmad Mukhlis said his department received an emergency call at 5.12am, and fire engines from the Bukit Sentosa and Rawang fire and rescue stations arrived at the scene at 5.21am. The rescue operation involved 16 firefighters, assisted by a Light Fire Rescue Tender and an Emergency Response Motorcycle Unit from the Bukit Sentosa station, as well as a Fire Rescue Tender from the Rawang station. – Bernama

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s absolute ban on electronic waste (e-waste) imports is a bold environmental move but experts say without urgent improvements to domestic collection and recycling, the policy could backfire and threaten the country’s circular economy ambitions. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri said improper handling of e-waste has long posed serious environmental and public health risks, particularly through illegal dumping and informal recycling. “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 also said open burning of e-waste classified as “scheduled waste” also releases hazardous fumes containing dioxins and furans, contributing to significant air pollution, adding that the health implications are equally grave. “Exposure to the toxins could result in neurological damage, respiratory illnesses and kidney failure, with children and pregnant women especially vulnerable. “Children face risks including impaired brain development and birth defects, while substances such as brominated flame retardants could disrupt the endocrine system and increase cancer risks,” he said, emphasising that disposal through Department of Environment-licensed facilities is critical to prevent irreversible harm. While the ban aims to stop Malaysia from becoming a global dumping ground, Muhammad Ammirrul said managing all e-waste domestically is a major challenge. “There is a critical mismatch between policy and infrastructure,” he said, adding that most of Malaysia’s roughly 128 licensed e-waste facilities are partial recovery plants limited to basic dismantling. “Fewer than 20 facilities have the advanced technology needed for full precious metal extraction.” He also highlighted a “raw material paradox” exposed by the ban. “Advanced plants require high, consistent volumes of e-waste to be economically viable,

Muhammad Ammirrul said the ban closes discretionary loopholes previously exploited by international waste syndicates and shifts Malaysia from being a global dumping ground to a sovereign regulator. – SUNPIC

The groups emphasised that strong enforcement must match strong laws. Their recommendations include robust customs procedures, tighter border controls, targeted inspections, cracking down on corruption and penalties commensurate with environmental and public health impacts. They also urged improvements to Malaysia’s domestic e-waste collection system to feed licensed recycling facilities and close loopholes allowing shipments to be disguised as repairable or reusable equipment. They also said local authorities must act on community reports and proactively patrol to uncover illegal operations. “Cleanup and remediation of contaminated soil and water are costly. Reduced crop yields, poisoned rivers and threats to livelihoods underscore why strong enforcement is critical.” They emphasised that ending the waste trade and curbing smuggling is essential to safeguarding the country. – By Harith Kamal future lies in advanced “urban mining” technologies to unlock the economic value of e-waste. “AI-powered robotic sorting could identify and separate components with 99.9% accuracy, reducing human exposure to toxins.” He explained that hydrometallurgy, a chemical process using solutions to extract metals, is currently the “gold standard” for recovery, while biometallurgy, which employs microorganisms, represents the next green frontier. He also cautioned about knock-on effects for the repair and refurbishment sector, research institutions and green foreign investment, emphasising that policy instability could deter investors. “The lack of a robust domestic policy for household e-waste is the missing link. “Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, Malaysia must go beyond import bans to build a fully integrated, closed-loop ecosystem if it aims to become a regional leader in sustainable resource recovery.”

but the import ban has cut off a key supply line.” With household e-waste collection rates estimated at about 25% and significant leakage into the informal sector, licensed recyclers now face a “feedstock shortage,” threatening the sustainability of high-tech recovery operations. From a regulatory perspective, Muhammad Ammirrul described the absolute ban as a powerful legal deterrent. “It closes the discretionary loopholes previously exploited by international waste syndicates and shifts Malaysia from being a global dumping ground to a sovereign regulator.” However, he said the policy is a “high-stakes gamble.” “Without foreign supply, high-tech plants risk insolvency unless domestic collection is drastically improved,” he said, adding that the ban’s long-term success hinges on redirecting household e-waste away from illegal operators and into the formal recycling chain. Muhammad Ammirrul said Malaysia’s

‘Strict enforcement crucial to prevent smuggling’ PETALING JAYA: Environmental and consumer groups have hailed an absolute ban on electronic waste (e-waste) imports, adding that strict enforcement is crucial to prevent illegal smuggling and protect public health. relevant agencies is essential to ensure the ban’s effectiveness,” the statement said, echoing MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s warning that waste traffickers exploit loopholes and may bribe officials to bypass the law. The groups highlighted Malaysia’s

Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) welcomed the move, announced by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday, following the second meeting of the Special Task Force on the Enforcement Management Roadmap for Plastic and E-Waste Imports. A three-month moratorium on plastic waste imports was also proposed. In a joint statement, Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman and CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader described the measures as “critical to protecting both the environment and public health,” adding that they send a clear message: Malaysia will not tolerate being treated as a dumping ground for hazardous waste. “Firm and coordinated enforcement by all

obligations under the Basel Convention, which bars industrialised nations from dumping e-waste in developing countries. Since 2025, all internationally traded e-waste requires prior informed consent, not only items labelled as hazardous. Despite the ban, the groups said illegal shipments could still slip through ports, often disguised as second-hand or repairable electronics or mixed scrap metal, with organised crime and corruption facilitating the trade. “Electronic and electrical components contain heavy metals and toxic substances. Illegal dumping and unregulated recycling release pollutants into air, soil, dust and water, posing risks to workers and communities.”