Local councils in Selangor are ignoring the safety of drinking water by allowing the proliferation of landfills located near waterways, said DAP Selangor chief Ong Chee King.

Quoting state multimedia, environment and new village development chief Ch'ng Toh Eng, Ong ( far left ) said many local councils allocated landfills near rivers because it was cheaper than having one in rural areas.

"DAP Selangor does not accept this reason as it will cause pollution affecting Selangor citizens drinking water [...] The heath of the people and safety of drinking water should not be compromised just to save cost," said Ong in his memorandum to Selangor Menter Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

The memorandum was submitted today and received by Khir's private secretary Salamat Dollah.

Since February, there have been two cases of excessive ammonia content in rivers due to leachate from landfills caused disruption in the supply of water to various parts of the Klang Valley.

DOE questioned

The latest case was on April 15 when Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) was forced to shut down the Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant near Kajang which affected water supply to about two million people.

The Sungai Kembong landfill owned by the Kajang Municipality Council was later identified as the culprit.

Following the incident, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid said he would propose the closure of all landfills to the cabinet committee on environment and disasters chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which will meet on April 28.

In his memorandum, Ong stated that the two incidents of severe water pollution in recent months were not in line with the proclamation of Selangor being a 'developed state'.

Ong also questioned if the Department of Environment had acted professionally in approving such landfills and whether a proper Environmental Impact Assessment was drawn out.

"How can a landfill be allowed and gain the approval of the department of environment without proper leachate treatment plants, which is the most basic facility of a landfill," added Ong in the memorandum.