KUALA LUMPUR – The Local Government Development Ministry through Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corp (SWCorp) aims to close 192 more illegal landfills by the end of next month.
Minister Nga Kor Ming said the closures to be implemented under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 will involve several locations identified in seven states, namely Johor with 45 sites, Kedah (26), Melaka (52), Negri Sembilan (20), Pahang (20), Perlis (11), and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (18).
“We are determined to clean up all these hotspots (illegal landfills) but the only snag is that after the authorities have cleaned them up the problem will recur.
“As such, we will take preventive measures to avoid the same problem from happening – but this requires a high level of civic awareness, cooperation, and a spirit of love for the country (among the community),” he told reporters when met after the closing of the 127th illegal landfill, which saw 425 tonnes of trash being cleaned up at Taman United here today.
Meanwhile, Nga said his ministry would continue to carry out regular monitoring and enforcement at illegal landfills, and that 35 mobile CCTV cameras have been installed at 22 locations.
He said apart from having all roll-on-roll-off waste trucks registered and labelled, landfills located in remote areas would be turned into parking lots.
He said his ministry would also impose compounds and take legal action against those found dumping waste illegally, and complaints can be lodged via 1-800-88-7472. – Bernama, March 7, 2023
