Generally, there are 3 main types of nature of manufacturing activity in Malaysia: light, medium, heavy industry. Manufacturers establishing plants in Malaysia often inquire about the categorization of their manufacturing activities.

It is crucial to determine this classification due to obtaining a manufacturing license and necessary approval from relevant authorities. 

How do we determine the business is categorized under which category? Below are some guidelines as references.

    1. Environmental concerns ranging from air pollution, to noise, smoke, odour, water pollution, risk of death due to fire and explosion, and risk of health due to toxic chemical waste release.
    2. Hazardous or non-hazardous waste
    • Hazardous waste refers to those generated from industrial processes and medical facilities
    • Non-hazardous waste refers to “municipal solid waste”

3. Waste Management Facility


4. Buffer Zone

    • Buffer Zones are intended to safeguard and protect human lives, property, well-being, and sensitive ecological resources including noise and vibration, odorous emissions, air pollution, water pollution, smoke, fire and explosion.
    • An area or distance between industries and residential areas, is introduced to distance the residential area from the area of activity to reduce the exposure to pollution.
buffer zone for light, medium, heavy industry
Light IndustryMedium IndustryHeavy Industry
Characteristic1. None or very low pollution potential for air pollution, noise, vibration, odour, fire or explosion

2. Does not involve the use of hazardous raw materials or the production of hazardous products

3. Use of renewal or low greenhouse gas emission sources of energy

4. Generate no or very low amounts of wastewater with potential to contribute to water pollution

5. Industries are small scale and mostly compatible with each other.

1. Moderate pollution potential and risk due to fire, explosion, and/or hazardous chemicals

2. Moderate air pollution potential (including odour) from low levels of residual air pollutants

3. Moderate potential for emission of greenhouse gases and/or ozone depleting substances

4. Moderate noise and/or vibration with no significant residual impact

5. Generate significant quantities of wastewater containing low levels of residual pollutants

6. Generate scheduled wastes which are mostly readily treated or managed within prescribed facilities.
1. High pollution potential and risk due to fire, explosion, radiation, and/or highly hazardous chemicals

2. High air pollution potential (including odour) from residual pollutants in air emissions (fugitive and source emissions)

3. High potential for emission of greenhouse gases and/or ozone depleting substances

4. Generate excessive noise and/or vibration exceeding safe limits

5. Generate large quantities of wastewater containing significant levels of residual contaminants

6. Use large quantities of raw material(s) with potential to cause significant fugitive emissions during handling, transfer and storage

7. Generate significant amounts of scheduled wastes some of which are difficult to treat or managed.

Primary Buffer Zone RequirementMinimum of 50m or moreMinimum of 150m or moreMinimum of 300m or more
Example of BusinessRefer to Attached DocumentsRefer to Attached DocumentsRefer to Attached Documents

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