THE illegal carbon filter-processing factory in Sg Lembu, which is at the centre of a Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission probe, did not cause pollution in 2015, according to the Department of Environment (DoE) in Penang.

This was revealed in the minutes of a May 6, 2015 Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) meeting on the factory issue at its office in Bandar Perda. 

The DoE representative said it found no pollution at the factory during a visit because there was a barrier above the pits blocking the smoke and dust.

The officer said the issue with the factory, which was located in an oil palm estate, was it had no licence to operate.

“The department can support the factory’s operation if the sawdust-burning activity can be done in a closed manner and with the use of proper safety equipment. These environmental control requirements had been communicated to the owner.

“The owner also has to get a licence from MPSP. DoE will look at other related conditions, such as the factory’s operations and the suitability of the site,” the officer said, according to the minutes.

It was also stated that the factory owner must apply to convert the land from agricultural to industrial to operate there legally.

The minutes were disclosed by the state government today to show that its environment exco, Phee Boon Poh, who is in the centre of the MACC probe, had done his job.

Phee said he requested for the meeting with the various authorities to discuss the problem with the illegal factory, which had attracted complaints from nearby residents.

He admitted that he had received an appeal from the factory owner before the meeting took place.

Reading out the minutes, Phee said the factory used to operate with a licence in Alma, before relocating to Sg Lembu. But the owner did not apply for a new licence from the council after the relocation.

“The location of the factory exceeds 500m from residential buildings. I also said at the meeting that a thorough investigation must be done to check if the factory was polluting the environment.

“I also asked for a thorough check on whether the residents’ claim that they became sick due to the factory was true.”

Phee said he had also asked for the factory to be placed under legalisation programme to make sure the business used environmentally friendly measures.

Also present at the meeting were Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, whose office handled the complaints from her constituents about the factory; then council secretary Rozali Mohamud (now council president); and officials from the state environmental department, land and district office.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the minutes were released to the media following Phee’s request. – August 22, 2017.