PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will intensify investigations into premises involved in the illegal importation of electronic waste (e-waste) into the country.
Its deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said intelligence gathered by the commission indicated that an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 containers carrying e-waste had been smuggled into Malaysia through major ports.
He said the companies involved were believed to be owned by foreign nationals and were importing electronic waste, plastic and paper for recycling purposes.
“Valuable components such as copper, alloys and gold are extracted, while the remaining waste is disposed of by burning, burying or dumping it indiscriminately, resulting in air pollution and contamination of water sources,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 21).
The commission did not rule out the possibility that the activities were being protected by certain authorities tasked with preventing the entry of solid waste into the country.
“If not comprehensively curbed, these activities could pose a serious environmental threat to the nation,” he said.
To address the issue, a Special Task Force Meeting on E-Waste Enforcement has been established, comprising 12 agencies including the MACC, Waste Reception Control Agency, Royal Malaysia Police, Department of Environment, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.
The meeting will examine specific laws related to e-waste and implement more effective enforcement measures to ensure smuggling activities are eradicated at their roots.
The MACC said it viewed the matter seriously and warned authorities involved to immediately halt the importation of e-waste.
