Citation Act 226 Date passed 11 December 1979 Date passed 18 January 1980 | Enacted by Dewan Rakyat Enacted by Dewan Negara | |
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Territorial extent Malaysia (except Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak) | ||
The National Parks Act 1980 (Malay: Akta Taman Negara 1980) is a Malaysian federal law that governs the creation and the maintenance national parks in Malaysia. It was created in 1980 during the controversy surrounding the protection of Endau Rompin forest complex. The act provides for the states to establish national parks to be administered by Department of Wildlife and National Parks under the federal government.
During its passing, the debate on state and federal power was common. The states and in particular Johor within the context of that time did not agree to the act as it was seen as surrendering states' right to the federal government. This objection prevented the Endau and Rompin from being gazetted as a national park prior to the 1990s.
This Act shall not apply to Sabah and Sarawak and the State Parks of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu which together constitute the Taman Negara as described in the Schedule to the Taman Negara (Kelantan) Enactment [En. 14 of 1938] and in the First Schedules to the Taman Negara (Pahang) Enactment 1939 [En. 2 of 1938] and the Taman Negara (Terengganu) Enactment [En. 6 of 1358H].
Structure
The National Parks Act 1980, in its current form (1 January 2013), consists of 11 sections and no schedule (including 2 amendments), without separate Part.