Water pollution: Sungai Selangkah turned greenish following a discharge of effluent from a factory in Pasir Gudang, Johor. — Bernama
JOHOR BARU: A director and a manager of a metal plating factory in Pasir Gudang industrial area have been detained on suspicion of polluting Sungai Selangkah, which has suddenly turned greenish.
State Environment Department (DOE) director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff said two local men aged 35 and 50 were detained on Tuesday (Nov 30) here at around 4pm.
“We received complaints from the public notifying the DOE about the river’s condition on Monday (Nov 29), and the department sent a team through our Pasir Gudang branch office to investigate the matter.
“The team detected a discharge of green effluent from the factory’s drain, which led to the river,” he said here on Wednesday (Dec 1).
Mohd Famey said the department then carried out equipment operation detention action to stop the source of the discharge and instructed the factory to take appropriate action to rectify the matter.
He also said effluent samples had been taken and forwarded to the Chemistry Department for further analysis.
Mohd Famey said the two individuals were detained under Section 37C of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 25 of the same Act, which carries a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of not more than five years or both, upon conviction.
