THE Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Johor Department of Environment (DOE) to take stern action under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against factory operators identified as being involved in the recent pollution of Sungai Skudai in Johor.
A week ago Sungai Skudai was reported to have white foam, and the results of the DOE’s investigation found that a metal factory in the Senai Industrial Area Phase III was suspected to have caused this problem.
CAP is concerned by the incident because it not only polluted the river but could also affect the health of consumers if the problem persists.
Therefore, CAP calls on the state DOE to impose severe penalties on the factory operators involved based on the severity of the adverse effects caused by the pollution.
CAP regrets that in recent years, river pollution incidents in this state have occurred frequently and have raised concerns among the residents affected; we hope that Sungai Skudai does not become another Sungai Kim Kim near Pasir Gudang, Johor (“Illegal dumping turns into a big disaster”, The Star, March 13, 2019; online at bit.ly/star_polluted – almost 500 people in the vicinity of the river had to be treated for respiratory ailments).
The Johor government, local authorities, state DOE and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage need to conduct more frequent inspections of all factories in the state to ensure no operators are turning the irrigation system into a toxic waste pond.
CAP asserts that all rules enshrined under the existing law must be strictly enforced without fear or favour. CAP also calls on the Johor state government to make public the results of the investigation and the action taken in the issue of the pollution of Sungai Skudai as soon as possible.
MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
