Head of state: Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Head of government: Datuk Seri (Prime Minister) Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (UMNO)

Ruling party: Barisan Nasional (BN) (National Party) multi-racial coalition of 10 parties, the dominant party being United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Area: 330,434 sq km

Population: 22.7 m (1999)**

Membership of international organizations: ANRPC, APEC, ASEAN, CCC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITC, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Association of Tin Producing Countries, Colombo Plan (CP), Commonwealth, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement, Interpol, IPU, IRC, Islamic Conference, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), World Bank.

Expiry of GC membership:--

* The World of Information "Asia & Pacific Review 1997 Sixteenth Edition, The Economic and Business Report

** College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 1999

- the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (being
administered by UNESCO/ ratification 7 December 1988);

- the 1973 Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Accession 20 October 1977)

- the 1985 Vienna Convention on Substances that deplete the ozone Layer (Accession 29 August 1989);

- the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer (Accession 29 August 1989);

It has ratified the 1990 London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

Malaysia has acceded to:

- the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their

Disposal;

Malaysia is signatory to:

- the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (signature 12 June 1992).

- the International Tropical Timber Agreement (input Mr. Taal (Forests)).

- the charter of the Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests (input Mr.Taal (Forests)).

Malaysia should be encouraged to sign and ratify/or accede to:

- the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;

- the 1979 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

- the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (being administered by UNESCO).

Malaysia has been actively participating in the implementation of the amended London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade.  

1. Maintain a clean and healthy environment;
2. Minimize the quality of the environment relative to the needs of the growing population;
3. Minimize the impact of the growing population and human activities relating to mineral exploration, deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, tourism, and development of other resources, on the environment;
4. Balance the goals of socioeconomic development and the need to bring the benefits of development to a wide spectrum of population against the maintenance of sound environmental constitution.
5. Place more emphasis on prevention through conservation rather than through curative measures;
6. Incorporate an environmental dimension in project planning and implementation through the conduct of Environmental Impact assessment Studies; and
7. Promote greater cooperation and increased coordination among relevant Federal and state authorities as well as among the ASEAN governments.

Environmental Quality Act
Environmental Quality Act (Amendment)

National Forestry Act
National Park Act
Pesticides Act
Land Conservation Act

Department of Environment

1. Siltation caused by agro-based activities, logging and mining, and infrastructure development
2. Deteriorating Water Quality
3. Marine Pollution
4. Air Quality
5. Noise Pollution
6. About 50% of Toxic and Hazardous Waste are generated by electronics industry
7. Solid Waste
8. Deforestation and destruction of biodiversity caused by logging and conversion to other Land Use
9. Rapid growth in water demand
10. More efficient use of energy required
11. Overfishing
12. Coastal pollution
13. Disruption of mangroves areas
14. Coastal erosion
15. Disruption of coral

1. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
2. International Organization of Consumer Unions
3. Malayan Nature Society
4. Golden Hope Plantations Berhad