Court denies RimbaWatch’s bids for judicial review against ministries

The High Court here today dismissed environmental watchdog RimbaWatch’s applications for judicial review against two ministries over their alleged failure to investigate complaints concerning the “misleading” marketing of a fossil fuel product.

The applications sought to challenge decisions by the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry (NRES) and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry (KPDN) last year.

RimbaWatch’s lawyer, Kumaresan Thurairaju, said justice Azizan Md Arshad dismissed the applications in chambers.

The court made no order as to costs.

Kumaresan said RimbaWatch would appeal the ruling and write to the court to request its grounds of judgment.

Senior federal counsel Syahriah Shapiee and Intan Syafinaz Ros’lin appeared for the two ministries, while lawyer Abhilaash Subramaniam appeared as amicus curiae for the Malaysian Bar.

Last year, RimbaWatch lodged complaints with NRES and KPDN over a fossil fuel company regarding the marketing of a product derived from fossil fuels as “carbon neutral”, which it claimed was misleading.

RimbaWatch said it filed the complaints with the two ministries because KPDN represented the ministry responsible for consumer protection, while NRES represented the ministry responsible for preventing pollution and protecting the environment.

“We suggest that, if indeed these claims are misleading as we believe, they could harm both consumer protection and climate protection interests,” it said.

However, KPDN informed RimbaWatch that the complaint fell outside its jurisdiction and should instead be filed with NRES.

NRES, meanwhile, told RimbaWatch to file the complaint with KPDN.