IPOH: A total of 22 factories in Jelapang here have failed to adhere to Department of Environment (DOE) regulations.
Perak environmental committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said the state DOE conducted the checks at Jelapang and Meru industrial areas from April 26 to April 28.
“The checks were conducted under Ops Gempur Pra Raya after we received quite a number of complaints lodged by nearby residents on foul smell.
“Jelapang assemblyman Cheah Pou Hian also raised the issue during the last state assembly meeting and came to my office to lodge the report himself.
“DOE conducted spot checks at 26 factories and found only four of them complied with the regulation,” he told reporters during a press conference held at the DOE office here Thursday (April 28).
Mohd Akmal said the department will be issuing 62 compound notices to the factories soon.
“These compound notices will be issued the latest within 30 days after the inspections were conducted. The factories will have to pay them within 30 days from the date of the compound notice.
“The total amount for the compound notices is expected to be more than RM120,000,” he said, adding that the department has opened two investigation papers.
“Among the factories checked during the operation are heavy metal processing, food and coffee processing, and non-metal excavation factories.
“The department also issued 19 instruction notices and 27 field citations against the 22 factories,” he added.
State DOE director Rosli Zul, who was also present, said the department will be conducting another similar operation.
“We will continue this operation from time to time to ensure that factories adhere to the regulations.
“The department will not compromise with any parties if they fail to comply with the environmental law,” he said.
