THE Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Johor Environment Department (DoE) to take stern action under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against factory operators identified as being involved in the recent pollution of Sg Skudai.
CAP is concerned with the incident because not only does the pollution affect the river, but also the health of consumers if the problem persists.
Therefore, CAP calls on the DoE to impose severe punishment on the factory operators involved based on the severity of the adverse effects caused by the threat of pollution. Ongoing investigations and monitoring should also be done by DoE so that this incident does not recur.
A week ago, white foam on the surface of Sg Skudai was reported, and the results of the DoE’s investigation found a metal factory in Senai Industrial Area Phase III was suspected to have caused this problem.
CAP regrets that in recent years, river pollution incidents in this state have occurred frequently and raised concerns among the residents involved; and we hope that Sg Skudai does not meet the same fate as Sg Kim Kim near Pasir Gudang.
The Johor government, local authorities, DoE, and the Irrigation and Drainage Department need to conduct surveys and more frequent inspections on all factories in the state to ensure that no operators make the irrigation system into a toxic waste pond.
CAP asserts that all rules enshrined under the existing law must be strictly enforced without fear or favour.
CAP also calls on the government to make public the results of the investigation and the action taken in regards to the problem of the pollution of Sg Skudai immediately. – The Vibes, May 13, 2022
Mohideen Abdul Kader is the president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang
