Residents, councils unite in pushback against illegal dumpers in KL, S’gor
A 700m stretch of the Sungai Bohol riverbank in Bandar Kinrara 1, Puchong, which ought to be a pleasant spot for family picnics and leisure, has instead been turned into a massive dumping ground for construction waste.
Sungai Bohol starts at the Air Hitam Forest in Selangor, flows past Kinrara Golf Club, Bandar Kinrara 1 neighbourhood, and ends at Sungai Bohol Flood Retention Pond in Kuala Lumpur.
Barely 1.5km away along the Bukit Jalil Highway in Kuala Lumpur, a second eyesore has emerged.
Drivers are greeted by an expansive mound of rotting timber, broken concrete and discarded building debris strewn along the roadside.
Local authorities have been left incensed by the brazen nature of these fly-tippers.
As both dumping sites sit along heavily used thoroughfares, in full view of everyone rather than hidden back roads, local council teams are continuously forced to clear away the recurring mess at great effort and expense.
Riverbank turns dumpsite
In Bandar Kinrara 1, resident Suresh Das, 52, an air conditioner repairman said the neighbourhood residents have been putting up with illegal dumping for over two years.
Describing it as a recurring problem, Suresh said Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) had acted on residents’ complaints by sealing the entrances to Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/8 and a part of the riverbank at Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/10 with concrete blocks.
The operators of two illegal farms nearby were also told to vacate.
However, the illegal dumpers found other spots along the riverbank to offload their rubbish.
“The problem here is nobody knows who the culprits are and when they will strike,” he said.
Other residents who spoke on condition of anonymity collectively said they suspected irresponsible parties were dumping rubbish along the riverbank under the cover of night.
Due to fear of repercussions, the residents were afraid to confront the polluters.
However, everyone expressed eagerness for something positive to be done as the mounds of rubbish are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Banners declaring the area as a dengue hotspot have also been put up.
Kennedy Micheal, founder of the non-governmental organisation Alliance of River Three (ART), who has eight years of experience in river ecosystem restoration, said he was appalled by the sight.
“A river bank should be pristine. Judging from the amount of rubbish present, it is clear that the culprits have developed a sense of impunity, believing that they are not subject to the law,” he said.
It is possible to reclaim the riverbank to be turned into a public park or community space, he said, adding that active engagement from the local community was crucial.
“They must report dumping activities. As for residents’ fear of repercussions from illegal dumpers, the police should take the lead role in transformative efforts.
“A sustained police presence and consistent enforcement over two to three years may be necessary,” he added.
Kennedy also suggested that residents check out the Selangor Water Management Authority’s Friends of Rivers, a programme that empowers local communities, residents and NGOs to actively protect, conserve and monitor rivers in Selangor.
Alternatively, Air Selangor also has a similar programme called River Care. The details can be found in the respective websites.
Series of enforcement
MBSJ said ongoing enforcement action had been carried out at Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/8 and Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/10 since April 2025.
For Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/8, where ownership of the land is split between Federal Territories Lands and Mines Office (PTGWP) and Petaling Land and District Office (PTDP), MBSJ said it had cleaned the site on April 22, 2025, and installed concrete blocks to prevent vehicle access.
The Sewerage Services Department (JPP) later installed fences on Feb 23 this year as an added control measure.
However, despite regular monitoring, the concrete blocks were found moved on June 4.
Following a site visit on July 6 with PTDP and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKl), a contractor set up a close-circuit TV camera at the entrance of Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/8 to monitor illegal dumping actitivities.
For the Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/10 site, which falls under the jurisdiction of Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and PTDP, MBSJ collaborated with KDEB Waste Management to clean the place on May 18, 2025.
MBSJ also notified Selangor DID and PTDP of the need to take further action.
On July 20 this year, a site visit by StarMetro found MBSJ enforcement unit at the opposite bank of Jalan Bandar Kinrara 1/10 serving warning notices to owners of several Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) bins placed at the riverbanks.
When met, one of the enforcement officers said MBSJ had put the area under daily monitoring and surveillance for two weeks.
MBSJ Enforcement Department director Muhammad Zaki Yusoff said cleaning works at the riverbank began on July 21.
A video he sent showed a backhoe lifting debris and emptying it into a RoRo bin.
Petaling DID district engineer Maimunah Abu Hassan Ashaari said Sungai Bohol was part of the natural drainage system within the Sungai Klang catchment area and functioned primarily as a channel for stormwater conveyance and surface runoff from the surrounding areas.
“The river is not a raw water source, but an urban drainage management and flood control system during heavy rain.
“The preservation of the river as a drainage system is important to ensure its hydrological function remains effective,” she said.
Maimunah added that DID welcomed proposals to enhance public appreciation of rivers and reserves.
Highway hotspot
Located next to a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) main substation on Bukit Jalil Highway is a piece of vacant land identified as a dumping hotspot.
Though the area is presently rubbish-free following a cleanup by Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), the spot was filled with discarded construction debris about a week ago.
This recent cleanup marks the second time that SWCorp took action at the site located opposite a popular mall.
The first cleanup took place after Bukit Jalil fire station chief Mohd Azhar Harun highlighted it to StarMetro in June 2025.
In the earlier report, he said the pile of rubbish being so close to the TNB substation was worrying.
“If a fire breaks out at the dumpsite, it might spread next door and turn into an electrical fire, which is more dangerous and difficult to extinguish,” he was reported saying.
PTGWP, the landowner of the site, said the land was a reserved pipeline route for water supply under the Petaling district.
In a statement, PTGWP said this is the third time the site has been encroached. Previously, two notices were served to a recycling enterprise to vacate the site on Sept 11, 2024 and April 15, 2025.
“In the latest development, immediate cleaning work is being actively carried out at the site in collaboration with SWCorp, which is also managing the transportation of waste out of the site in stages.”
The statement said that a warning signboard prohibiting rubbish dumping had been erected at the location. Any party caught may face a heavy fine or jail term up to five years.
Some perpetrators have been caught. SWCorp Federal Territories director Nordin Amat said they made several arrests during a special operation on April 2-3.
Subsequently, an investigation paper was opened under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, or Act 672.
“Investigations found that the arrests involved different perpetrators. Based on the quantity of waste found at the site, it is estimated that the dumping activity involved more than 10 trips using waste transport vehicles,” he said.
Pattern of dumping
Nordin said illegal dumpers typically use a similar modus operandi, choosing quiet, less-used access routes with multiple exits to escape if detected.
They often target secluded areas such as vacant land, forest fringes, abandoned plots, and non-fenced government or private land with little security or public monitoring.
They also favour sites where waste have already piled up. Without continuous cleaning, monitoring and enforcement, these locations remain vulnerable to repeated illegal dumping.
Despite the number of public awareness campaigns, illegal dumping continued, he added.
In addition to becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and snakes, there is the significant financial implication that the government will have to bear.
“These funds could have been channelled to improve cleanliness standards and service delivery to the public.
“Instead, they’re going towards the cleaning up of mess caused by irresponsible parties,” said Nordin.
Based on 2025 records, he said, 35 illegal dumping sites were identified in the Federal Territories.
The cleaning works carried out at all the locations involved the removal of 1,301.08 tonnes of solid waste, with an overall cleaning cost of RM373,247.38.
Based on current estimates, cleaning works at the illegal dumping site along Bukit Jalil Highway next to the TNB substation is expected to involve about 230 tonnes of solid waste, with cleaning cost possibly exceeding RM61,000.
Nordin added that stricter enforcement, continuous monitoring and public cooperation were needed to combat the problem better.
“Residents should promptly report suspicious activities and provide photos or videos as evidence to support investigations and enforcement.
“Local communities, including Rukun Tetangga committees, are also encouraged to act as the authorities’ ‘eyes and ears’ by monitoring illegal dumping hotspots and report suspicious activity,” he added.
