Selangor-owned mining firm regrets oil spill that caused water cut

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Jul 2019 10:59AM · 5 Comments

A diesel spill in Sg Selangor forced the shutdown of four water treatment plants yesterday, affecting more than a million households. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 22, 2019.

A SELANGOR government-owned mining company said it has detected the source of the pollution that forced the shutdown of four water treatment plants yesterday, disrupting supply to more than a million households in the state.

Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) said it detected the source of the diesel spill near Kolam Hang Tuah in Sg Selangor about 6.15pm yesterday.

The firm, in a statement today, did not specify whether the area in question is where it conducts mining activities, but said it regrets the incident.

“We are monitoring the situation along with the authorities. We deeply regret that this happened, but we’d like to stress that the conservation of nature, rivers and other water sources is our top priority,” said KSSB senior public relations and corporate affairs manager Abdul Wahab Nordin.

He said an emergency response team was immediately deployed to contain the spill.

He said KSSB is investigating the cause of the incident “from every angle”, including whether elements of sabotage were present, and that the company will provide updates.

The shutdown of the Sg Selangor Phases 1, 2 and 3 Water Treatment Plants and Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plant affected 1,133 areas in the Klang Valley, involving 1,166,842 consumers.

The affected areas included Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.

Yesterday’s supply disruption followed a water cut on Friday, also due to pollution.

Indah Water Konsortium said a thick layer of black oil was found at the entry point of the sewage treatment plant in Batang Kali, forcing the firm to conduct clean-up operations.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd this morning said the four plants resumed operations at 3.30am today, but added that it will take time before supply is restored to normal levels. – July 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • Deep regret is not an excuse for not taking legal action against the culprits who did this and who allowed this to happen. The heaviest penalties should be imposed for these breaches of the law as water is a strategic commodity. Judges should also be cognizant of this and impose the maximum penalty and sentence as a deterrent and leniency in this matter should not be allowed.

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Sorry is not enough!! Penalize them, fine them in the millions! Each time there is a shutdown do you know how much the businesses and factories are losing? Millions!! Not to mention delays in their productions, cannot meet datelines and workers are paid for doing nothing while waiting for water to resume. This is a very costly affair to the country. So can this inept State government fix the problem once and for all pleeease!,

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Why is mining still going on? We are still corrupt!

    Posted 4 years ago by K Pop · Reply

  • Its been one pollution after another, wonder the next round would it be polluted or something new. These incidents are by no means coincident as the after effect of such acts hit the consumers the most. In short these people knew exactly what to do, inside job is you were to ask me

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Give the culprits jail time and a taste of the whip. Perhaps even a taste of the water they polluted.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravind Valiapan · Reply