Around the clock: The Selangor government has been conducting 24-hour surveillance at main river basins to prevent pollution.
PETALING JAYA: Water polluters, you’re going to be in hot water – it’s a punishment of up to five years in jail and a maximum fine of RM10mil under proposed amendments to the law, set to be tabled in October.
As a stronger deterrent for such crimes, jail time may even be mandatory for those who pollute water sources under a Bill to amend the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127).
“The Bill is expected to be tabled in the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in October this year.
“This is after the Attorney General’s Chambers finished studying the proposed amendments on July 6,” the Department of Environment (DOE) told Sunday Star.
Currently, those who illegally dump scheduled waste into Malaysian waters will face a maximum fine of RM500,000, five years’ jail or both under Section 34B (4) of the Act.
“Despite this penalty, there are still offenders who do not care and irresponsibly dump waste, causing harm to the environment.
“As such, the government is taking action to amend Act 127 to ensure stern punishment is given to offenders who cause such pollution,” the department said.
Another proposed change in the Bill is to increase compounds from RM2,000 to an amount not exceeding 50% of the total maximum penalty for each offence.
Besides that, the Bill will also improve emission standards involving air, noise, soil, water and discharge of oil and waste into Malaysian waters.
The slew of amendments is part of the first phase of the Environment and Water Ministry’s efforts to strengthen the Act.
“The ministry is amending the law in stages.
“The first phase involves compounds, penalties and standards to ensure stiff action is taken against those who cause environmental pollution,” said the department.
The second phase, expected to be completed in 2025, will aim to strengthen the Act and is still being fine-tuned by legal and environmental experts.
“The draft of the second phase will include engagements with all stakeholders like government agencies, non-governmental organisations, project developers and industry players,” the DOE added.
Meanwhile, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) is also mulling expanding regulations to stop direct and indirect water pollution in the state.
“Luas is looking into making it compulsory for all developments in Selangor, regardless of their distance from water reserves, to obey regulations when discharging pollutants to curb water pollution,” it said.
This is to regulate such activities so that their emissions do not affect the quality of water sources.
Luas is currently reviewing such changes to the regulations, and any amendments will need to go through the state assembly to be passed.
“For now, the state government through Luas is still conducting 24-hour surveillance at main river basins in the state to ensure pollution incidents do not occur and to avert water cuts for the people,” it added.
