Water disruption: Factory still being probed - Selangor exco

The factory allegedly responsible for the pollution which caused water disruption in the Klang Valley is still being probed, said Selangor state executive councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin.

She said this after The Star reported yesterday that the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) suspended the factory’s licence and fined the owner RM1,000.

“It must be stressed that the news report was not comprehensive and inaccurate because MPS acted based on its authority given the odour pollution occurred within its jurisdiction.

“For your information, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) is completing its investigation under Section 79(1) of the Luas Enactment 1999 – where those involved can be fined between RM200,000 and RM1 million and imprisoned not more than three years.

“And the Department of Environment (DOE) arrested two individuals to assist in its investigation under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 - which carries a mandatory jail sentence of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM10 million,” she said in a statement.

Yesterday, DOE director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar revealed the alleged polluter to be a factory processing acrylic material at the Jalan Kampung Orang Asli industrial area in Kuang, Rawang.

The odour pollution caused Air Selangor to shut down four water treatment plants in the state.

He also said two individuals were detained to assist investigations.

“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,” Latif was reported as saying, adding the cleaning up was done by a licensed contractor.

Jamaliah added that the agencies involved will meet soon to decide on a follow-up action.

“The Selangor state government will not compromise with anyone who tries to pollute our water sources and strict action will be taken under existing laws,” she added.

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

Unscheduled water disruption in Selangor, KL