Johor DOE receives eight complaints over pollution at Sg Kopok

ISKANDAR PUTERI (Bernama): The Johor Environment Department (DOE) has received eight complaints over pollution at Sungai Kopok, Ulu Tiram since 2018.

State Local Government, Urban Well-being and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said the complaints were on its foul smell and dark colour, and incidents of dead fishes in the river.

He said investigations were carried out following the complaints and it was found that the pollution was caused by the discharge of industrial effluents with high organic load, especially from palm oil-based operations such as oleochemicals, and soap-based operations, biodiesel as well as food-based manufacturing.

"Although the plants are equipped with effluent treatment facilities, there are a few that have been negligent in controlling discharge of effluents from their premises.

"This results in cases of effluents being discharged without being treated first,” he said at the Johor state assembly sitting here Sunday (June 7).

Tan said at this stage, investigations were on-going on all suspected sources of the effluent discharge and enforcement action would be taken against violations of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and its regulations.

These would include issuing a stop order on the plant operations, or a directive, imposing compounds or taking court action, he said to a question from assemblyman S. Gopalakrishnan (PH-Tiram) who called for appropriate action against polluting of the river. - Bernama