THE factory that allegedly caused the river pollution in Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah that resulted in Klang Valley water disruptions is still being investigated despite being suspended by the local council, Selangor exco member Jamaliah Jamaluddin said.
“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 for 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.
“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,” Jamaliah said in response to a news report yesterday that the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had suspended the factory’s licence and fined its owner RM1,000.
The river pollution had caused Air Selangor to shut down four water treatment plants in the state.
Jamaliah said the agencies involved would meet soon to decide on the next course of 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.
Yesterday, DOE director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar revealed that the alleged polluter was a factory processing acrylic material at the Jalan Kampung Orang Asli industrial area in Kuang, Rawang.
He added that 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,” Wan Abdul Latif said in a statement.
The cleaning up was done by a licensed contractor.
The factory processed acrylic materials and an inspection revealed that the source of the odour pollution was the leak of a chemical known as poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) from a storage tank.
This chemical is a liquid product produced by the premises,” said Wan Abdul Latiff.
He said the spill overflowed into the premises’ drainage system, then into the main road drain, and finally into Sungai Kuang.
“The flow of Sungai Kuang enters Sungai Kundang, then into Sungai Sembah, and subsequently into Sungai Selangor. The chemical leak resulted in the release of a strong, pungent odour characteristic of PMAA,” he said. – July 25, 2024.
