Flashback to StarMetro’s report on July 1.
Tear down the structure and vacate the land within 30 days.
Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MPKL)issued the order to an illegal facility processing electronic waste in Telok Panglima Garang, Kuala Langat, Selangor.
MPKL deputy president Arpaaii Sanat said an operation conducted last month found that it had been built without approval and was also used to store electronic waste.
“We found that the premises had been sealed by the Department of Environment (DOE), with an order for the waste to be removed.
“A notice was issued to the operator by MPKL for erecting a structure without approval,” he said in a statement to StarMetro.
This facility was one of three that were operating illegally in the middle of an oil palm plantation in the Telok Mengkuang area.
The issue came to light after a StarMetro report on July 1, “Green cover for toxic menace”, exposed the presence of heavy industries on agricultural land.
The three facilities were fined a total of RM500,000 during a raid by Selangor DOE.
Arpaaii said the second facility was in the midst of applying to change the land status from agricultural to commercial.
However, this structure had been built without approval from the council too, he noted.
“By law, the operator is required to submit the development plans to MPKL prior to any venture.
“It must also pay a development fee of RM702,000 as this involves a change of land status in the local plan,” he said.
The local plan is an official town planning document that outlines the permitted land use for each zone and planned development.
Arpaaii said that the third factory had also been built without council approval.
“The operator was ordered to cease operations immediately and submit the necessary applications to MPKL.
“A notice was also issued as the facility was operating without a valid licence,” he said.
A local activist, who declined to be named because of safety concerns, urged the authorities to investigate the source of the waste as some believe it could be imported, raising concerns over environmental safety in Kuala Langat.
