'Rushed' carbon bill: NGO urges govt to hold more talks with experts

Summary

• Sahabat Alam Malaysia urges Putrajaya to consider public feedback and concerns from civil society groups before pushing ahead with bill on carbon capture.

• Group claims only one ‘vague’ consultation session held with Economy Ministry last year over ‘inadequate’ bill.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has sounded the alarm over Putrajaya’s apparently rushed tabling of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill in Parliament, highlighting a lack of proper public consultation despite concerns raised.

Questioning the government’s haste in pushing through with the bill, the environmental group claimed the proposed law only involved one consultation session with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli last year.

“(The session) was limited to a vague and rudimentary framework of the bill without further details.

“This rush and haste to approve the bill is completely unacceptable, given the critical concerns that have been raised on the risks and dangers of the CCUS implementation,” SAM president Meenakshi Raman said in a statement today.

Rafizi tabled the bill for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, with the proposed legislation expected to be debated and voted on today.

The bill, which is touted as a catalyst for the development of the carbon capture, utilisation and storage industry as a new source of economic growth, will only apply to Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.

Serious risks

Noting that the CCUS technology is “controversial” as its implementation poses serious risks with grave consequences to economic, environmental and social conditions, Meenakshi said the bill does not sufficiently address pressing issues.

“The bill alludes to the issue of carbon dioxide leakage and its risks to the environment, but does not adequately provide for how these matters will be dealt with, including the issue of who will bear the liability for any accidents,” she pointed out.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | What is carbon storage and is it good for Malaysia?

She added that SAM has forwarded its study on the CCUS technology - which revealed “many concerns” - to Rafizi, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Environment Department.

Among the risks of carbon capture, she said, include its potential hazard to the public and environment, the integrity and permanence of disposed carbon as well as high expenditures linked with failed projects and cancellation risks.

KINIGUIDE | What is carbon storage and is it good for Malaysia?

Experts want more details on Rafizi's carbon storage proposal

Proposed carbon capture bill not applicable to Sabah, says Jeffrey

Ministry tables memorandum on carbon capture, utilisation, storage