Cahaya Green
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Mangrove coastline in Sabah
Environmental Law · Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Navigating Malaysia's Environmental Law, One Compliance Step at a Time

Cahaya Green supports developers, industrial operators, and project proponents across Sabah with clear, considered legal guidance on environmental obligations under Malaysian law.

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+60 88-246 3718
[email protected]
Environmental Quality Act 1974 specialists
Our Practice Areas

Three Focused Areas of Environmental Law

Each engagement is scoped to the specific regulatory framework your project or operation faces — whether that is an initial EIA, an active enforcement matter, or ongoing permit compliance.

Environmental Impact Assessment advisory

EIA Advisory

Legal guidance for project proponents required to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Prescribed Activities Order. Covers procedural compliance, terms of reference development, and submission to the DOE.

  • Regulatory checklist and TOR development
  • Legal review of consultant draft reports
  • Public display compliance planning
  • Duration: 2 – 4 weeks

RM 700 / engagement

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Pollution liability and remediation advisory

Pollution Liability & Remediation

Advisory for businesses facing pollution incidents, DOE enforcement actions, or environmental damage claims. Covers liability assessment, remediation coordination, regulatory negotiation, and defence of prosecution proceedings under the Environmental Quality Act.

  • Rapid-response site assessment
  • Regulatory exposure review
  • Scheduled waste compliance
  • Timeline depends on enforcement stage

RM 1,700 / engagement

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Environmental permit and licensing management

Permit & Licensing Management

Ongoing legal support for obtaining and maintaining environmental permits, licences, and approvals for industrial and development operations in Malaysia. Covers air emission licences, effluent discharge permits, scheduled waste storage approvals, and noise compliance.

  • Annual renewal management
  • Compliance audit support
  • Quarterly compliance reviews
  • Retainer-based engagement

RM 2,800 / retainer

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Have a Project or Compliance Question?

Our environmental law team is available to review your situation and outline the most straightforward path forward — without unnecessary pressure or complexity.

Book a Consultation Call +60 88-246 3718
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which activities in Malaysia require a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment?
Under the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) Order 1987, a broad range of activities require a Detailed or Preliminary EIA before approval — including land clearing above certain thresholds, mining operations, manufacturing facilities, airports, dams, and coastal or offshore projects. Activities in Sabah and Sarawak may be subject to additional requirements under state land and forestry legislation. Cahaya Green can assess whether your specific project triggers EIA obligations.
What should a business do immediately after receiving a DOE enforcement notice?
Receiving a notice from the Department of Environment triggers formal obligations under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The notice will typically specify a deadline for response or corrective action. It is advisable to seek legal review of the notice before responding, as an ill-considered response can expand the scope of the inquiry. Cahaya Green's Pollution Liability advisory begins with a regulatory exposure review to determine your legal position and available options.
How long does the EIA submission and approval process typically take?
A Preliminary EIA typically takes two to four months from commencement of studies to DOE decision, assuming a complete and adequate submission. Detailed EIAs involving public display periods and inter-agency consultation may take considerably longer — often six months to over a year depending on project complexity and the number of comments received. Legal preparation of the submission documents, which Cahaya Green assists with, can meaningfully reduce the risk of requests for additional information that extend the timeline.
What types of environmental licences does an industrial facility in Malaysia typically need?
Depending on the nature and scale of the operation, a facility may require an air emission licence, effluent discharge licence, scheduled waste contractor approval, and/or a noise compliance declaration. Each licence carries specific conditions including monitoring frequency, record-keeping, and reporting to the DOE. Non-compliance with any licence condition is an offence under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Our Permit & Licensing Management retainer covers all applicable licences for your operation.
Is Cahaya Green's practice limited to Sabah, or does it cover all of Malaysia?
Our team is based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and has particular depth in Sabah and Sarawak environmental law, including state land and forestry legislation that overlaps with federal DOE requirements. We also handle EIA and permit matters for projects on Peninsular Malaysia where the federal Environmental Quality Act applies. We are pleased to discuss your project location and advise on jurisdiction-specific considerations.
How are your fees structured for the Permit & Licensing Management retainer?
The Permit & Licensing Management service is provided on a monthly retainer basis at RM 2,800, which includes licence renewal management, quarterly compliance reviews, and annual regulatory update briefings. Additional disbursements such as government processing fees are billed at cost. For EIA Advisory (RM 700) and Pollution Liability Advisory (RM 1,700), fees are per engagement. We are happy to discuss the scope of your requirements before you commit to any arrangement.
Our Location

Visit Our Offices

Level 10, Wisma Sabah, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Contact Cahaya Green

Get in Touch with Our Team

Whether you have a specific compliance matter or are at the early stages of scoping a project, we welcome your enquiry and will respond within two business days.

Contact Details

Address

Level 10, Wisma Sabah
Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Working Hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (by appointment)

Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

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