Section 3

to administer this Act and any regulations and orders made thereunder;

to be responsible for and to co-ordinate all activities relating to the discharge of wastes into the environment and for preventing or controlling pollution and protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment;

to recommend to the Minister the environment protection policy and classifications for the protection of any portion of the environment or any segment of the environment with respect to the uses and values, whether tangible or intangible, to be protected, the quality to be maintained, the extent to which the discharge of wastes may be permitted without detriment to the quality of the environment, long range development uses and planning and any other factors relating to the protection and enhancement of the environment;

to control by the issue of licences the volume, types, constituents and effects of wastes, discharges, emissions, deposits or other sources of emission and substances which are of danger or a potential danger to the quality of the environment or any segment of the environment;

to undertake surveys and investigations as to the causes, nature, extent of pollution and as to the methods of prevention of pollution and to assist and co-operate with

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other persons or bodies carrying out similar surveys or investigations;

to conduct, promote and co-ordinate research in relation to any aspect of pollution or the prevention thereof and to develop criteria for the protection and enhancement of the environment;

to recommend to the Minister standards and criteria for the protection of beneficial uses and the maintenance of the quality of the environment having regard to the ability of the environment to absorb waste without detriment to its quality and other characteristics;

to co-opt any persons or bodies to form panels of experts whom he considers capable of assisting him in relation to special problems;

to publish an annual report on environmental quality not later than 30 September of the following year and such other reports and information with respect to any aspect of environmental protection;

to specify methods to be adopted in taking samples and making tests for the purposes of this Act;

to undertake investigations and inspections to ensure compliance with this Act or the regulations made thereunder and to investigate complaints relating to breaches of this Act or the regulations made thereunder;

to provide information and education to the public regarding the protection and enhancement of the environment;

to establish and maintain liaison and co-operation with each of the State Authorities in Malaysia and with other

Environmental Quality 19

countries with respect to environment protection, pollution control and waste management;

to report to the Minister upon matters concerning the protection and enhancement of the environment and upon any amendments he thinks desirable to any law affecting pollution and environment and upon any matters referred to him by the Minister;

to promote, encourage, co-ordinate and carry out planning in environmental management, waste management and pollution control; and

to determine uniforms for officers appointed under subsection (2).

There shall be such number of Deputy Directors General of

Environmental Quality and such other officers as may be necessary and expedient for the due administration of this Act who shall be appointed by the Minister from amongst members of the public service.

The Minister may give to the Director General directions of a general character not inconsistent with this Act as to the exercise of the powers, duties and functions of the Director General under this Act and the Director General shall give effect to any directions so given.

Unless excepted under any regulations made under this Act, any

Deputy Director General and such other officer may exercise any powers, duties and functions of the Director General under this Act.

Establishment of the Environmental Quality Council