PORT KLANG: Port controls will be intensified, particularly at Port Klang, to block the entry of illegal waste, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said the ministry takes a serious view of any attempt to use Malaysia as a gateway for importing or dumping illegal waste.
He said the Environment Department (DOE), in collaboration with the Customs Department, will continue to carry out enforcement activities.
“We will not compromise with any party attempting to turn the country into a dumping ground for waste.
“All importers should fully comply with regulatory requirements, as any violations will be met with the strictest legal action,” he told reporters after inspecting containers suspected of containing illegal waste at the North Port here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Nik Nazmi said since March 14, the Selangor Customs Department has detained 354 containers suspected of carrying e-waste and plastic waste that entered Malaysia via Port Klang, particularly North Port.
“The inspections followed information received from a non-government organisation based in the United States regarding the arrival of containers from there,” he said.
He added that multiple enforcement and technical agencies, including the DOE, the National Solid Waste Management Department, the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation, and Sirim Berhad, would continue inspecting the remaining unopened containers.
Between Jan 1 and May 13, the DOE inspected 179 containers suspected of carrying e-waste, of which 122, or 68%, were confirmed to contain such waste.
“Further investigations showed the importers had made false declarations. As a result, 119 directives were issued to these companies under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act, requiring the containers to be returned to their country of origin,” he said.
