FOR 15 years now, the fishermen of Kuala Selangor have been complaining about river pollution issues in Sg Buloh but no permanent solution has been provided by any department or agency.

For them, every time a complaint is lodged, the situation eases for a while before the river is polluted again because of the failure to take act against irresponsible parties.

The fishermen also suspect that there are “insiders” in the government agencies assisting the factory operators who dump toxic waste into rivers.

Fisherman Tohar Mohd Amin, 58, said they have lodged complaints with all the relevant departments but to no avail.

“We have had many discussions and all they have said is that they will take action. When the government departments make an official visit, the water is clear. Then it goes back to murky again.

“Do we have to wait until people are admitted to the Tanjung Karang Hospital or Sg Buloh Hospital until they take action?”

Tohar blames the pollution on the Batu Ijok industrial area, which began operating around 2007.

According to Tohar, the water quality in the river is good before it passes through the industrial area when the water starts to turn black and smelly.

Another fisherman, Kahar Buntal, 67, said they have informed the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) at Bukit Tinggi of the issue last year.

“Luas also told us that the waste was dumped in the river by the factories. They also showed pictures of the pollution by the factories.

“They also showed pictures of the channel but not the factory. We know it is the paper mill there because there are no other factories near there.

“We wanted to ask questions but they told us it was a briefing and no questions were allowed.”

Kahar said the polluted water is affecting their health and some fishermen suffer from itchy skin.

“The fishermen have never experienced this before.”

The polluted river is also affecting those who rear shellfish, he said, hurting their livelihood.

Omar Bakir, 63, said the pollution had damaged the coastal area until the marine life, such as shellfish and crabs, no longer breed in the area.

“There is discolouration in the clams and when this kind of contamination happens, the shellfish can’t breed.

“There is also rubbish thrown into the river and this is also killing many fish and clams.

“In the past, there was a lot of marine life like siakap, crabs and shellfish. Now there is nothing but lizards here.” – June 10, 2019.