pic courtesy General Operations Force via BERNAMA
IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) has seized electronic waste (e-waste) worth RM31.3mil in a raid on an illegal factory within an oil palm plantation in Parit.
Ulu Kinta GOF Northern Brigade Commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim said the items seized on Tuesday (July 22) included 81 blocks of e-waste weighing 105.3 tonnes, five tonnes of coal, two four-wheel-drive vehicles and a trailer lorry.
"The investigation found that the illegal factory, about 5km from the main road, is believed to have been carrying out unlicensed e-waste processing activities using specialised equipment without any approval from the authorities.
"The raid, conducted in collaboration with the Perak Environment Department (DOE), Perak Tengah District Council and Perak Tengah District and Land Office, also led to the arrest of three local men, aged between 36 and 70, to assist with the investigation,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 23).
SAC Shahrum said the case is being investigated under Sections 18, 19, and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Section 6 of the Second-hand Dealers Act 1946, as well as Section 127 of the National Land Code.
He added that enforcement efforts would be intensified, with no compromise given to any party involved in illegal activities.
"The public is urged to serve as the eyes and ears of the authorities by channelling information on such illegal activities,” he said. – Bernama
