JOHOR BARU: A local man and three Bangladeshis have been arrested by the police for allegedly operating an illegal dumping site spanning 3.64ha along Jalan Kempas Lama-Seelong, says Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The Johor housing and local government committee chairman said the arrests were made as authorities moved in to shut down the site, which had been operating illegally for three years.
“The site has been ordered to cease operations immediately following complaints from residents about open burning and foul odours.
“The land was designated for agricultural use and has been leased by the owner to the current operator, who apparently used it as an illegal rubbish dumping ground,” he said during a visit to the site on Tuesday (Aug 11).
He added that inspections by Johor Baru City Council and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation confirmed that the premises were never issued a licence for the collection of solid waste and construction debris.
Mohd Jafni said the state government also sought police assistance to look for the landowner, believed to be a Singaporean, as part of the investigation.
“We need to determine whether the owner was directly involved in these activities or had collaborated with the operator. If the owner is found to be involved, we will take action as well,” he said.
He also assured residents that PETRONAS’ technical investigation showed the area was safe from any explosion risk, despite the site being located near a gas pipeline.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Radin Ramlan Radin Taha said the suspects aged 31 to 40 years old were arrested at about 10.30am on Sunday.
He said the Malaysian suspect is remanded for four days while the three foreigners are remanded for 14 days to assist with investigations under the Immigration Act.
Earlier, about 10,000 residents from four villages - Kampung Sri Aman, Kampung Tawakkal, Kampung Maju Jaya and Kampung Sinaran Baru - claimed they have been exposed to safety risks after the site allegedly carried out open burning activities only about 12m from a gas pipeline.
Residents said the burning reportedly occurred almost every night, raising fears that the fire could spread and trigger a major incident.
