An unpleasant smell, which had been the cause of sleepless nights for folks residing near the Kampung Paya Jaras Islamic cemetery in Shah Alam, was raised at the Selangor state assembly.
Datuk Dr Halim Tamuri (PN-Paya Jaras) had asked what action would be taken by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to ensure the problem does not recur.
“The smell is especially strong at night and during the pre-dawn hours. Residents have also reported that their iron grilles had rusted, presumably caused by the release of fumes.
"As the smell seems to be coming from the cemetery, imaginations are running wild, and people are coming up with all sorts of interpretations and allegations,” said Halim.
State Islamic affairs and cultural innovation chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah replied that the odour was not from the cemetery but from a nearby fibre manufacturing factory.
"The smell is from the factory’s chemical waste, which had flowed into the drains near the cemetery.
"It is believed that the chemicals had seeped through the earth of a landfill near the factory and entered the drains through an underground stream.
“Following residents’ complaints, a meeting was held between Jais, the Al Huda Mosque and a contractor on Nov 16 last year and it was agreed that two retention ponds would be built to prevent the chemical waste from flowing into the nearby drains,” said Mohammad Fahmi.
He said there were no more complaints after the completion of the retention ponds.
To prevent the issue from recurring, Mohammad Fahmi said Jais had written to the Selangor Environment Department and Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) seeking an update on the matter.
