THE Penang government will take action against the Pulau Burung landfill operator after a fire that started last Wednesday continues to burn.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he is waiting for a report from the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MBSP) and will raise the issue at the state’s exco meeting on Wednesday.

“Notices have been served to the landfill operator when MBSP discovered that mandatory work in the schedule was not done. We will see what action can be taken. Worst-case scenario is to terminate the concession of the company,” he told reporters after launching the 50th anniversary of Penang Industry in George Town today.

According to him, the landfill operator, Syarikat PLB Terang Sdn Bhd, started to manage the landfill five years ago and has a 21-year concession.

Chow said a landfill contract cannot be short term because it involves detailed management and needs daily operation. 

“All decisions in terms of action against the management should not be rushed and require careful planning,” he said.

The landfill caught fire at about 5pm last Wednesday and quick action by the Fire and Rescue Department and the voluntary fire brigade to build a barrier around the blaze prevented it from spreading.

Meanwhile, the Nibong Tebal fire station chief Noor Asfariza Mohamad Abdul Kadir, when met at the landfill, said the team is now faced with a water shortage.

“We have only managed to extinguish about 7% of the fire and we are facing a problem because there is no water source here,” she said.

“To use seawater is not possible because the sea is far away and using water taken from ponds is risky as it contained chemicals.”

She said at present, her team is relying on water supplied by MBSP.

“The area is only accessible to small water tankers and the temperature here is quite hot and there is a lot of smoke, so we must be vigilant for the safety of the crew who have been here for the past six days from 8am to 8pm,” she added.

Some 6.5ha of the 16.2ha landfill are affected. – Bernama, January 17, 2022.