The Environmental Quality Act 1974 aims to prevent and eliminate pollution and improve the environment in Malaysia. It establishes regulations that control factors like the concentration of lead in gasoline, noise levels of motor vehicles, and emissions from cars and motorcycles. The act also requires an assessment of potential environmental impacts from prescribed activities, considering noise, vibration, air and water pollution, safety hazards, and more. Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution addressed by the act, with limits placed on smoke density and types of emissions like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and lead from exhaust.