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by ESTHER TAN, TAN CHIN SIANG, New Straits Times Press (Malaysia)

Opening the fourth meeting of the conference of parties to the Basle Convention, Law said Malaysia had for the past few years taken concrete steps to protect the environment. One of the measures was the amendment to the Environmental Quality Act which, among others, provide for severe penalties against illegal transboundary movement, transport and disposal of hazardous wastes. Under this amendment the penalty is a maximum fine of RM500,000 and a jail sentence of up to five years.

"The amendment has been enforced since Aug 1, 1996. I would like to assure the international community that we will enforce these provisions without fear or favour.

"Our country has been under constant threat of illegal disposal of hazardous wastes in the form of oil sludge by ships plying our waters.

"Therefore, the provision for stiffer penalties underscore our seriousness in protecting our marine resources and present a stern warning to those who constantly flout our laws," he said.

Among those present at the function which is held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly known as Riverside Majestic) are Bakary Kante, president of the third meeting of the conference of the parties to the Basle Convention and Dr Iwona Rummel-Bulska, executive secretary of the Basle Convention secretariat.

In the area of infrastructural facilities, Law said the first integrated facility for the treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes generated within the country was undergoing its final phase of construction. Some of the components, such as the secured landfill and stabilisation facility, were already operational and the physical chemical treatment and high temperature incineration facilities were being tested.

"It is hoped that by the middle of this year, the facilities will be fully operational and the problem of proper disposal of hazardous waste in Malaysia will be solved," he said.

In thanking the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Co- operation for Environment and Development for providing technical support during the planning and construction of these facilites, Law said Malaysia had also introduced measures to strictly regulate the export of hazardous wastes.

Industries, he added, had also been encouraged to implement waste minimisation programmes to reduce disposal cost as well as environmental cost through source reduction. Law said the international community could count on Malaysia's support and conviction in upholding the principle of "thou shalt not pollute thy neighbour, nor cause harm under whatever pretense".

"I urge countries, especially those that champion the cause of the so-called human rights to join the convention without hesitation and prove that they are really sincere in protecting the welfare of third world countries." More than 300 participants from over 100 countries are taking part in this five-day conference which is a follow-up to the September 1995 Geneva meeting.