Selangor uges Span to act on river polluter

The Selangor government is urging federal agency National Water Services Commission (Span) to use its laws to take action against the company responsible for the diesel spillage at the Selangor River last weekend.

This is on top of the case which the Department of Environment is preparing against the company, according to Selangor executive councillor in charge of tourism, environment and consumer affairs Elizabeth Wong.

"DOE Selangor is prepping for their court case and I have also suggested (to) the Span central region representative to use their laws to take their case, too," she said on Twitter.

She added that the owner, who had gone into hiding, can "tell his sad story in court" but this will not affect the state's "resolve to seek maximum punishment".

Wong also expressed thanks to all agencies who assisted in the cleanup, including Puncak Niaga and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), which the state has been locking horns over the water consolidation issue.

Wong was earlier quoted by the New Straits Times as saying that the owner of the garbage truck depot, blamed for the diesel spill, was still in hiding and is still not answering telephone calls.

"If he does not turn himself in to the DOE by next week, we will ask the police to find him," she had said.

She also told the daily that the depot was legal and licenced but it will not be allowed to reopen in Selangor.

Meanwhile, Syabas in a statement on its Facebook page, said that 194,949 or 13 percent of affected homes may still have difficulties as at yesterday.

It added that it has also deployed water trucks and static water tanks to the four still affected areas of Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling and Klang/Shah Alam.

A total 57 water trucks have been deployed, including trucks on loan from Perak, Johor and Negri Sembilan water agencies and the armed forces.

"Nonetheless, we would like to remind users that we will not be able to fulfill all their needs in the affected areas, and will prioritise higher need users like hospitals, dialysis clinics, mosques and funerals," it said.