WWF-Malaysia Welcomes Proposed Creation Of "Environmental Courts"

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) has welcomed the proposed introduction of "environmental courts" in the country. It expressed hope that the initiative would play a key role towards establishing frameworks that effectively institutionalise the capacity and role of the judiciary in the application of environmental law and policy that ultimately support sustainable development. WWF-Malaysia said the move would promote and define environmental justice in the country by strengthening environmental laws and regulations as well as improve governance mechanisms. "We're certain that the proposed establishment of a specialised court that adjudicate environmental matters will go a long way in ensuring strict implementation, enforcement and compliance of environmental laws and policy in the country," its executive director and chief executive Dr Dionysius Sharma said. Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria had said that specialised environmental courts may soon be introduced in the country at the opening of the 2012 Legal Year and Conference of Judges in Putrajaya. -- BERNAMA