The Malaysian Insight

THE Environment and Water Ministry is looking at increasing fines for polluters after the recent river contamination incident in Selangor, which left more than a million Klang Valley consumers without water, said Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Tuan Ibrahim said the ministry is reviewing the fines imposed for the various offences, which comes within its purview.

“We will recheck on the compound, we feel the current penalty is too low, and we will increase the rate of fines on irresponsible factories,” he said during an event at his ministry today. 

Earlier this month, Air Selangor was forced to shut down four treatment plants after Sg Gong, one of the river tributaries that supplies raw water to the plants was contaminated with used industrial oil.

Four men were subsequently arrested in connection with the pollution of the river.

Tuan Ibrahim said as part of its effort to ramp up enforcement, the federal government is setting up a new enforcement unit tasked with preventing environmental crimes.

“This unit will oversee the entire country,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

He said such a unit is needed in light of the many pollution cases in the country recently.

Tuan Ibrahim also said that the ministry encouraged civil groups and communities to continue to be involved and keep watch so that the nation’s water source is well protected. – September 14, 2020.