The Johor government has recently rejected investment deals from two Chinese companies to build waste recycling centres in the state, as they were considered to only hurt the state in the long run.

State International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said the Johor government did not wish to see the state become a waste disposal centre for other countries, and would never accept such investments.

"Earlier in June, I had informed that the state government had rejected investments from three companies from China and last week I had rejected two more investments from the same country.

"The same move has been taken by the Kedah and Selangor governments, and hope investors in this industry hear my message that the Johor government will not allow the state become a waste disposal centre," he told reporters after a trade event Johor Bahru, today.

Puah said the state government through the Johor Department of Environment (DoE) would also be raiding a number of companies believed to be masquerading as green technology firms.

"Recently, I met with the Johor DoE director to discuss on raids against companies that import green technology materials.

"I know there are some companies in the state who forge their import invoice to bring in plastic waste and we will hunt them down and impose on them the maximum possible penalty under the law," he said.

Puah said currently only over 100 million tonnes of garbage were waiting to be exported from major ports in China.

"I also urge the public to inform the state government or the DoE if there they have any information related to this kind of activity. This is very serious because when the waste arrives here, it will take a long time for it to be biodegraded.

"Electrical and electronic waste products that have harmful chemicals can also pollute our water resources," he added. 

- Bernama