SHAH ALAM – Polluters will now face heftier penalties after the Selangor legislative assembly today passed several amendments to the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) Enactment 1999.
Those guilty will face a mandatory jail term, while the fine has been increased from a maximum of RM100,000 to between RM200,000 and RM1 million.
The Luas (Amendment) Bill 2020 was unanimously passed in the state assembly.
The bill, tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari today, will also allow Luas to claim the cost of cleaning up rivers from the perpetrators in the event of a pollution.
Among other amendments to the enactment include:
- allowing Luas to impose surcharges for extra water usage to curb water supply wastage
- granting powers to seize without warrant to the director of Luas or police officers with an inspector rank and above
- giving the court power to order forfeiture of assets seized although no charges are made
- allowing Luas to reward public members who provide information on pollution. – The Vibes, November 9, 2020
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