DOE traces Sg Buah oil spill to transport company

SEREMBAN: The Department of Environment (DOE) has traced the transport company whose truck was involved in an accident on the Elite Expressway on Oct 22 resulting in palm oil by-product spilling and flowing into Sungai Buah.

It has recorded statements from several people on the cause of the contamination of Sg Buah and Sg Semenyih which caused treated water supply to some 1.6 million consumers in Selangor to be disrupted.

State DOE director Norhazni Mat Sari said her officers hoped to interview another one or two people before wrapping up the probe.

“The transport company has confirmed that one of its trucks spilled palm oil by-product in an accident at the spot a major spill was found.

“We have opened two investigation papers and will refer the matter to the deputy public prosecutor next week,” she told The Star.

The transport company failed to notify the DOE of the spill although it was required under the law.

DOE officers stumbled upon it while investigating the cause of the river contamination.

The water authorities in Selangor had to shut down the Sungai Semenyih treatment plant on Oct 28 upon detecting a strong odour from Sungai Buah in Negri Sembilan.

It also built three bunds at the confluence of Sungai Buah and Sungai Semenyih to prevent the water from flowing into treatment plant.