THE Perak Environment Department (DOE) raided a factory found to be conducting illegal metal smelting activities in an oil palm plantation near Kampung Tasek Perkasa and Kampung Bekor near Kuala Kangsar yesterday afternoon.

State Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said initial investigation revealed that the factory utilised waste from electrical and electronic assemblies scheduled waste as raw materials.

He said the factory was believed to have been in operation without a licence since four months ago and efforts are being made to locate the owner.

“The DOE has been monitoring the factory since November 29 and the factory is believed to operate only at night to avoid detection by the authorities and is also suspected of employing foreign workers,” he told a press conference yesterday.

The raid, which started at 4.30pm and ended at about 7pm,  involved the police, the Kuala Kangsar Land and District Office, the Perak Occupational Safety and Health Department, Perak Immigration Department and the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council.

Teh said no arrests were made during the raid.

Meanwhile, state DOE director Rosli Zul said samples from smelting waste will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

He said action in accordance with section 18 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 will be taken against the factory operator for carrying out activities without DOE approval and under section 19 of the same law for constructing a building without approval.

“The DOE will also apply section 34A(2) of the same act, which is for not submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, as well as not taking action in accordance with the Environmental Quality Regulations (Clean Air ) 2014 and the Environment (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005,” he said. – Bernama, December 15, 2022.