Water disruption: 2 held over factory leak that caused odour pollution - DOE

A factory processing acrylic material at the Jalan Kampung Orang Asli industrial area in Kuang, Rawang is allegedly behind the odour pollution which caused Air Selangor Sdn Berhad to shut down four water treatment plants in the state.

In a statement, Environment Department (DOE) director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said two individuals were also arrested under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to assist in the investigation.

“We instructed the owner of the factory to clean up their premises, the drainage around it and the affected river stream and they completed it yesterday evening,” he said, adding the cleaning up was done by a licensed contractor.

Under the act, which was amended on July 7, the accused could face a mandatory jail sentence of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM10 million.

Acrylic materials include elements such as resins, artificial fibres, plastics and others.

Mitigating measures

Yesterday, Air Selangor shut down four water treatment plants in the state due to odour pollution at Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah, causing unscheduled water supply disruption at several locations in Petaling and Kuala Lumpur.

The affected areas are the Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor regions, it said in a statement on Facebook.

“Air Selangor is doing its best to mitigate the impact on the consumers.

“Water tankers have been mobilised to the affected areas, with priority to critical premises,” it was reported saying.

Elaborating, Latiff said that DOE’s checks found that the odour pollution was caused by a chemical called polymethacrylic acid (PMAA), which leaked out from the factory.

The chemical, he added, overflowed to the drainage near the factory, with the contaminant eventually reaching Sungai Kuang, Sungai Kundang, Sungai Sembah and Sungai Selangor, resulting in odour pollution.

“We have taken three samples as evidence and sent them to the Chemistry Department to determine their composition and matching,” he added.

According to Sinar Harian, Selangor infrastructure development, agriculture and plantation modernisation, food security and agro-based industry executive councillor Izham Hashim said early checks found the factory possesses the required licence and is operating legally.

However, The Star reported that the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) has suspended its license, in addition to slapping it with an RM1,000 compound for discharging waste improperly.

“The owner has been instructed to clean up the discharge before we can allow them to operate.

“This was caused by their negligence as the substance had leaked out from a broken tank on the premises,” MPS president Shahman Jalaludin reportedly said.

Luas' swift action prevents water disruption amid Hari Raya: Exco

A stench so foul: Hulu S’gor folk claim e-waste firm violates rules

Johor villagers complain of foul smell causing students to vomit

Luas detects diesel pollution in Sungai Gong

Air Selangor: Water supply restored in stages, 4 treatment plants resume work

No water disruption despite polluted rivers - Selangor rep