Implementation of solid waste management policy in Malaysia / Mohd Fazli Abdul Aziz

Mohd Fazli , Abdul Aziz (2024) Implementation of solid waste management policy in Malaysia / Mohd Fazli Abdul Aziz. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

Unprecedented population growth, rising community living standards, and urbanisation have significantly contributed to the increase of solid waste generation in Malaysia. Improper solid waste management has negatively affected the environment and public health. Despite strategies to improve the country’s waste management system, Malaysia still struggles to translate policy decisions into actionable activities. Hence, this research examines the challenges in implementing a solid waste management policy in Malaysia. It analyses the possible gaps in the implementation process that hinder the policy from achieving its intended outcomes. The study demonstrates how the outcome of solid waste management policy is dependent upon the attempted implementation of the policy influenced by the prevailing political scenario, socio-economic conditions, cultural background, and the structure and availability of requisite resources. It also shows how policy is developed and implemented (or not implemented) from the combined influences of several stakeholders in the decision-making arena. To understand policy, one needs to understand the interaction between different stakeholders and how they affect and are affected by the policy process. In light of this, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions are employed as the main research instrument. Examination of practices and experiences of those involved in solid waste management policy implementation have shed some light on the current practices and issues of solid waste management. Additionally, field observations and analysis of written documents are employed to illustrate Malaysia’s solid waste management policy implementation. The result indicates that six factors have influenced solid waste management policy implementation in Malaysia: (a) political system, (b) institutional capacity, (c) inter-governmental relationship, (4) policy clarity, (5) cultural and socio-economic conditions, and (6) the role of local governments. In the developing countries context generally, but specifically in Malaysia, the policy process takes place within the complex socio-cultural, highly centralised, and hierarchical setting of a state-bureaucratic network, which has shaped the development and implementation of policy.

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