18 illegal factories face the chop in Pasir Gudang

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 15 Jul 2019 7:00AM · 1 Comments

Orang Asli Seletar children playing in a kampung in Kuala Masai, Pasir Gudang, last month. The state government is going after illegal factories in the area after the second incident of toxic pollution. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 15, 2019.

JOHOR authorities have identified at least 18 illegal factories in Pasir Gudang and are moving in to shut them down by as early as this week.

The district land office and the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) have identified these factories which were believed to be operating on state land, state Department of Environment (DoE) director Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar told The Malaysian Insight.

“We are going in with the relevant agencies to check them out.

“So far, we have inspected and closed three factories.

“Our operations are ongoing and even though we have achieved our target of inspecting 250 factories, we will continue with our enforcement.”

Wan Latiff said action will be taken according to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 if there is any pollution while the MPPG has the authority to shut down the factories.

“From what we know, most of the illegal factories are operating on state land.”

Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin at a press conference on the Pasir Gudang pollution last month. The Department of Environment has just inspected more than 250 factories in the area. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 15, 2019.

The DOE also checked more than 255 factories and issued 125 compounds for offences related to the disposal of scheduled wastes, industrial effluents and sewage.

Wan Latiff said they have issued 59 notices against factories for not complying with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, bylaws and disregarding regulations set by the DoE.

“What we are trying to do is eliminate the factories not involved in the possible toxic fumes pollution.

“We have also sealed the equipment in 11 factories so that they will not be able to process anything.

“They will have to comply with the regulations, only then can they resume operations.”

The department is also taking legal action against three factories which committed serious violations.

“Some of them did not follow procedures for the disposing of schedule waste and did not submit their Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.”

Last month, more than 700 people, mostly pupils, were treated for respiratory problems believed to be caused by waste discharged by chemical factories in the area.

This is the second incident of toxic pollution in Pasir Gudang. The first incident happened in March when more than 1,000 people were treated in hospitals and all schools in the district closed for days. – July 15, 2019.

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Comments

  • The illegal factories could not have been operating on government land without someone tacitly allowing them to do so! Or are we being told that the enforcement officers did not have eyes to see them? Or was it due to the SOP known as "MANAGEMENT BY COMPLAINTS" which assumes (from the comforts of air-con offices) that if there is no complaint from the public about anything, there are no issues that need to be looked into on the ground! Thus the "MANAGEMENT BY COMPLAINTS" system puts responsibility for enforcement on the shoulders of the public. Like we have often heard the police say - there must be a report from the public before they can start an investigation although the matter is reported in the press and known to the police. Similarly, how is it that the DOE has not been keeping a register of all the factories in their area, of their products and processes, of the hazardous substances they use, and seeing to it that all laws are strictly complied with? Is it because strict enforcement would mean some of them may have to close down? So sit back and let them operate and if any public complaint is received, look into it and take "action" to placate the complainant.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply