IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) arrested a factory owner and seized about RM8.5mil worth of plastic waste, materials and machinery at an illegal plastic processing factory in Sungai Siput.
GOF Northern Brigade commander, Senior Asst Comm Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said the factory owner, in her 40s, was arrested during an Ops Taring Alpha 5 joint operation on Tuesday (March 31) at about noon.
"We've seized about 100,000kg worth of unprocessed plastic waste, 45,000kg in semi-processed plastics and various machinery used to process plastic.
"The premises had installed and operated several plastic processing facilities and had not notified the Environment Department," he said in a statement Wednesday (April 1).
"The premises, which has been operating without the approval of the Perak Environment Department for three years, obtained plastic waste from industrial areas in Kulim, Kedah.
"The processed plastic waste would then be sent to Klang Valley to produce resin," he added.
SAC Balveer Singh said the case has been handed over to the state Environment Department to be investigated under Section 34A(6) of the Environmental Quality Act for failing to produce a report on the impact of processing plastic towards the environment.
"Those found guilty can be jailed up to five years and fined up to RM1mil.
"The Environment Department has also suspended the operation of machinery that can cause pollution under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act," he said.
"Actions will be taken against any parties that run illegal plastic processing activities, as these could pose high risk to the environment and public safety.
"We will continue with our surveillance and enforcement efforts to identify, combat and deter any form of illegal activities," he added.
