DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming today said that there is "serious pollution" at the Taman Beringin waste transfer station, which is getting away with "flouting rules" regarding safe pollution limits released into water.

 

Ong has questioned how the government plans to manage the proposed incinerator in Kepong when they can't ensure that the waste transfer station is following rules set by the Department of Environment (DOE).

 

Ong's claims are based of sample tests that he himself had conducted. Ong said that he had collected four samples of water that was being released from the waste transfer station on June 30 and tests were conducted by an "accredited chemical laboratory." 

 

He said the results were "shocking".

The results are shown below, where samples are drawn from upstream of Sungai Batu (W1), direct discharge from the Taman Beringin waste transfer station (W2), Taman Nanyang (W3):

 

According to the lab tests, the samples taken had chemical oxygen demand beyond the safe limit, and also had arsenic and fluoride way above safe limits.

 

"I call for the DOE to investigate as to why the Taman Beringin WTS is allowed to flout DOE standards for its leachate discharge and to take strong action against those responsible for allowing these pollutants to be discharged into Sungai Batu," Ong said.

 

"If the government cannot even ensure compliance with DOE standards at the leachate treatment plants at Taman Beringin WTS and at Taman Nanyang (non sanitary landfill), how can residents be assured that the pollution standards will be effectively monitored for the proposed incinerator next-door?" he asked.

 

In another statement on the same issue, the Kuala Lumpur Tak Nak Incinerator (KTI) movement said that they would write into the Department of Environment (DOE), the Solid Waste Management, and also the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to seek explanations regarding the findings.