Priority should be given to accountability and fairness in environmental policies rather than short-term financial gains, according to a longstanding environmental activist from Malaysia.

In a series of speeches and statements, Meenakshi Raman, a veteran climate campaigner and president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, has called for urgent action to address Malaysia's environmental crisis.

Raman has emphasised the need to address resource consumption patterns and the persistent natural resource abuse due to mismanagement in the country. She argued that the rich, who emit more greenhouse gas emissions due to their lifestyle, should bear more responsibility and change their consumption patterns.

Raman pointed out that Malaysia's forests, which remain under the control of state governments, are often exploited for revenue through activities such as timber logging and monoculture plantations like palm oil. She urged greater accountability and equity in environmental decision-making in Malaysia.

One of the key issues Raman addressed is the implementation of the 2022 amendments to the National Forest Act. While the amendment came into effect in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, only Perlis is the only state to have adopted the amendments out of the 13 states in Malaysia. Raman warned that resources will continue to be exploited until all state governments adopt these amendments and transparency over land matters is built into the system.

Raman also highlighted the importance of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a key decision-making process the public can get involved in. She called for checks and balances between economic activity and environmental protection, stating that the lack of enforcement of laws is why Malaysia cannot deal with its climate crisis effectively.

In an effort to increase transparency, Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability has made summaries of its EIA reports accessible to the public starting February 2023.

However, Raman noted that though Malaysia has numerous environmental laws in place, their enforcement remains inadequate. She advocated for reforms including mandatory public disclosure of land ownership and usage rights, enhanced access to land-related information for communities, and stricter accountability measures for government agencies managing forest land.

Recent reports have shown heavy metals in the blood of Indigenous Malaysians, which was suspected to be linked to iron ore mining. The exploration of minerals in Malaysia is met with protests due to concerns over radioactive waste management, deforestation, and impacts on Indigenous communities.

State governments in Malaysia are increasingly opening up their lands for the mining of critical minerals and rare earths used in renewable energy technologies. Higher income households in the region of Iskandar Malaysia in southern Johor have larger carbon footprints, according to a 2022 study.

Raman spoke at the National Climate Governance Summit 2025 and emphasised the need for government leaders to acknowledge the need for more equity in decision-making and take responsibility for environmental problems. She cited the inability to recognise the consumption patterns of the wealthy as one of the "important failures of international negotiation processes."

The richest 10% of the global population are responsible for half of global emissions, while the poorest half is responsible for just 10%, according to an Oxfam report in 2015. Raman's calls for action in Malaysia are part of a global movement pushing for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Priority should be given to accountability and fairness in environmental policies rather than short-term financial gains, according to a longstanding environmental activist from Malaysia.