Multi-Dimensional Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Malaysia: The Perspectives of Practicing Environmental Consultants
[Thesis]
Paul, Bryan
Tang Kuok Ho, Daniel
Sunway University
2020
71 p.
M.A.
Sunway University
2020
Despite its practicability, there were questions on how to know if an EIA implemented is effective as a tool to negate the impacts of economic and societal developments while balancing for better environmental management. As the term 'effectiveness' can be interpreted differently depending on the focus of the study, many proposed theories and models were presented to evaluate EIA effectiveness. For this study, the evaluation was based on the original framework of EIA effectiveness dimensions which consist of four main items such as procedural effectiveness (PE), substantive effectiveness (SE), transactive effectiveness (TE) and normative effectiveness (NE). Here, the evaluation looks at Malaysia's EIA system and supporting evidences were taken from the perspectives of the country's environmental consultants. A descriptive correlational survey methodology was applied to answer the research questions. Findings from this study indicated that the EIA system in the country was moderately effective and performed well in three dimensions, particularly PE, SE and NE and was moderately ineffective and underperformed in TE dimension. Individually, PE dimension was considered effective in its overall guidelines and procedures but was deemed ineffective in its infrastructures to monitor EIA projects and involvement of public participations. SE dimension was considered effective in its contribution towards increasing awareness and influence on decision making but was deemed ineffective in the criteria involving incorporation, consultation and collaboration between stakeholders. TE dimension was considered overall ineffective for cost, time and resources planning. Finally, NE dimension was considered overall effective particularly in term of how EIA benefitted improvement to societal health and quality of life. These findings represented the items which were already incorporated into Malaysia's EIA system and as such, the criteria which were deemed underperforming in each dimension could then be of use for policy or regulatory changes to current EIA system to make it more holistic and effective as an environmental management tool.