Factory carries on activities despite shutdown order

Filtration ponds under construction at the plastic processing factory in Batu 2, Sepang.

Batu 2 residents in Sepang are concerned that a plastic processing factory in the area has not been shut down yet despite Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) revoking its licence.

Sepang and Sungai Pelek Federation of Temple Associations and Organisations chairman Joshua Tee, who visited the site recently, claimed that instead of winding down operations, the factory workers were in the midst of constructing and installing filtration ponds and effluent treatment equipment.

Tee said this showed that the factory operator was planning to continue operations, something the area’s residents are not happy with.

“We do not want the plastic processing factory here. Considering it has flouted the law by operating illegally for the past one year, residents are no longer confident that it will fully comply with environmental laws and council regulations. We worry that the factory operators may cut corners and endanger public health,” he added.

Although there was no trace of a disturbing burning smell in the air that day, Tee felt that the threat of air pollution was still real.

He said the factory supervisor told him that they had halted operations to fix the factory’s ventilation.

Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu, who is assisting the residents on the issue, said there was no more room for compromises.

“Whatever foreign plastic rubbish that has come here must be sent back to its port of origin, as we do not have the technology to deal with it yet.

“Until a safe way can be found to process plastic waste, the ban on its imports should remain,” said Liu.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a consultant said the factory management had invested more than RM120,000 on equipment alone to comply with guidelines set by the Environment Department (DOE).

Appealing for time to complete the installation and construction works, the consultant said the residents, authorities and members of the media would be invited to tour the factory once everything was ready.

MPSepang deputy president Muhammad Hafiz Shaari had, during the full board meeting last month, said the plastic factory in Batu 2 must be shut down to send a strong message against environmental pollution.

The council had shut it down twice before, once last July and again this March. However, the factory operator applied to DOE to be legalised. The department then requested MPSepang to give the factory a six-month licence to enable the operator to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. The licence was issued in April.

Selangor local government, public transport and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han said as a responsible government, it had to follow the rule of law.

“The factory must comply with DOE requirements if it wants to continue operating.

“At the same time, local councils must also consider the overall impact on the community and environment when issuing business licences,” he said.

When contacted, Selangor DOE director Shafee’e Yasin said the factory operator had appealed at the DOE headquarters in Putrajaya and was successful in obtaining approval to test its control equipment in preparation for the EIA report.

“They are now in the period of undergoing test runs to provide real data for smoke and emission readings,” said Shafee’e.

He added that the factory’s appeal was approved because it had complied with conditions in the plastic import permit stipulated by the National Solid Waste Management Department, which states that they must be clean and are of the same kind.