The application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in granting planning approval at local authorities / Hasnizam Ab Dulhamid

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the subject of this study, has been in
operation in Malaysia form more than two decades as the Environmental Quality
(Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 was formally
introduced in April 1988. The EIA Malaysia procedure identifies two parties that are
responsible to grant approval for development or project proposals, namely the State
Planning and Development Committee and the National Industrial Development
Committee, depending on the types of the development proposals. On the other
hand, EIA must also be utilized in the approval of project design and in the process of
issuing licenses and permits by various government agencies including the process
of granting the planning approval at Local Authorities. However, to date there is no
research conducted on the application of EIA in granting the planning approval. The
purpose of this study is to examine the utilization of Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) in granting the planning approval at Local Authorities. The
research involved three Local Authorities in Perak State as case studies. This
research also provides the proposals to improve the application of EIA in granting the
planning approval.