JOHOR BARU: Authorities are investigating an oil spill at a factory in Kota Tinggi believed to have been caused by malfunctioning equipment, said the the Johor Environment Department (DOE).
Johor DOE director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff said the department’s Pengerang branch conducted an inspection at the site on March 27 and confirmed that malfunction had caused a crude palm oil spill.
“The factory in question has been issued a prohibition order under the Equipment Operation Suspension (POK) directive and instructed to carry out immediate cleanup operations.
“As seen in the video clip, cleanup efforts are already underway,” he said when contacted.
Mohd Famey added that while the department takes such environmental issues seriously, he was disappointed that the incident was publicised on social media rather than reported through the proper channels.
“I am a bit disappointed because the complainant preferred to make the incident viral rather than lodge a formal complaint. There is no record of any such report in our system,” he said.
He urged the public to use official channels to report such incidents so that prompt action can be taken.
Earlier, two videos were uploaded to the Orang Kota Tinggi Facebook page, showing a brown substance floating along a river believed to be in Air Tawar, Kota Tinggi.
