KUALA LUMPUR: More than 6,000 illegal dumpsites have been shut down nationwide over the past three years as the authorities step up action against unauthorised waste disposal, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) alone shut down 3,600 illegal sites last year.
He added that those found to be involved in illegal dumping syndicates could face up to five years' jail and a fine of RM100,000 upon conviction under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672).
"Solid waste management is a key agenda in ensuring that our country remains clean so that the people can enjoy a good quality of life.
"Last year, SWCorp was also strengthened through the acquisition of more than 100 motorcycles, enabling enforcement teams to conduct raids directly at illegal sites.
"The government will continue to monitor the situation, as those who pollute the environment must also be made to clean it up," he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 5).
Nga was responding to a supplementary question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim-Bandar Baharu), who asked about measures to curb illegal waste dumping syndicates and the ministry's plans to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Nga added that as of Thursday (Nov 5), more than 17,000 compound notices had been issued, while more than 2,000 people had been ordered to perform community service by the courts.
On reducing reliance on landfills, Nga said the ministry was targeting the development of 18 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants by 2040, supported by 16 transfer stations and 10 sanitary landfills.
"We are also aiming to increase the national recycling rate to more than 40%, from the current 37.9%," he said.
Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) had asked about the long-term strategy for critical open dumping sites managed by rural local authorities and mitigation plans for districts without WTE plants to address the daily accumulation of waste at sites nearing full capacity.
Nga said the ministry had never left rural local authorities to shoulder the burden of ageing or nearly full landfills on their own.
He added that, as part of the government's continued commitment to rural areas, the Federal Government, through the Finance Ministry and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, had allocated RM1.1mil annually in operating funds since 2023.
"These funds are used to cover the operating costs of waste collection centres, transport lorries and disposal charges.
"This includes areas under regional development authorities such as the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar), the South Johor Development Authority (Kejora) and the Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah), as well as areas in Kedah," he said.
