KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has ordered a palm oil mill in Ulu Keratong in Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang, to halt its operations immediately due to river pollution.
MPOB director-general Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir today said the stop-work order was issued in accordance with the notice of instruction under Section 31 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 by the Rompin Environment Department (DoE) branch.
“The palm oil mill was instructed to stop its operations immediately until the notice of instruction is withdrawn by DoE,” he said in a statement.
Media reports on Friday said DoE had acted against the mill after an inspection found that it was the source of pollution in Sg Pukin.
According to the report, the incident stemmed from the collapse of an embankment of one of the mill’s effluent treatment ponds, causing the waste to flow into the riverbed.
Parveez said failure to comply with the order could result in the company’s licence being suspended, revoked or not renewed under Regulation 15(1) of the MPOB (Licensing) Regulations 2005.
“MPOB urges palm oil mills to comply with MPOB and DoE regulations on environmental protection at all times, especially during the implementation of the movement control order.”
The board has been working with DoE to curb environmental pollution, including in rivers, by palm oil milling activities, he said.
MPOB constantly monitors and conducts inspections on such mills to ensure compliance with the effluent treatment system and set emission limits. – Bernama, July 15, 2021
