MELAKA: The Environment Department has identified a premises suspected of being the source of black-coloured water pollution allegedly linked to the contamination of Sungai Ayer Salak in Klebang.
Melaka Environment Department director Rosli Mustafa said preliminary investigations found that the contamination was likely caused by the discharge of liquid waste from a factory in the Bukit Rambai industrial area.
He said the department had carried out several rounds of investigations and intensive monitoring to identify the culprit responsible for channelling the waste into the flood retention pond.
"One premises has been identified and directed to immediately cease any discharge activities that could lead to pollution. Enforcement action has also been taken in accordance with provisions under the Environmental Quality Act 1974," he said on Wednesday (Feb 4).
Rosli said he will not compromise on any act of environmental pollution and would continue close monitoring and firm enforcement to safeguard environmental sustainability and public well-being.
The incident had earlier drawn concern from Klebang assemblyman Datuk Lim Ban Hong, who called for stern punitive action against those responsible after receiving complaints from residents that the river had turned black and emitted a foul stench.
Lim said nearly 1,000 residents from four villages were affected, with contamination reported along an estimated 10km stretch of the river believed to have been impacted over the past three weeks.
Several tributaries flowing into Sungai Ayer Salak and Sungai Malim, before emptying into the river mouth at the Klebang Besar fishermen's jetty, were also reported to have turned dark and emitted an oily smell.
