PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9 — A Chinese national faces a RM10 million fine and mandatory prison sentence of up to five years for the charge of releasing chemical waste into inland waterways, near the industrial area of Jalan Kampung Orang Asli in Kuang, Selangor, last month.
Department of Environment (DOE) director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar said the 42-year-old man pleaded not guilty after the charge against him was read before Judge Nor Rajiah Mat Zin at the Selayang Sessions Court today.
According to the charge, the accused is charged with committing the act which caused the odour pollution incident and stoppages of the Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor water treatment plants (WTP) Phases 1, 2, and 3 on July 23.
Abdul Latiff said the charge was made under Section 25(3) of the Environmental Quality Act (Amendment) 2024 (AKAS) which is read together with Section 25(1) of the same act.
The prosecution was led by Selangor Deputy Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin together with DOE Deputy Prosecutor Nurliyana R. Azmi.
[caption id="attachment_365123" align="aligncenter" width="1125"]
Selangor Water Management Authority personnel emptying bags of activated carbon into a drain near Sungai Sembah and Sungai Selangor, after an acidic odour and foam discharge was detected nearby, which resulted in the suspension of operations of the Rantau Panjang, Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2, and 3 water treatment plants, on July 23, 2024. — Picture via FACEBOOK/LEMBAGA URUS AIR SELANGOR[/caption]
“Judge Nor Rajiah Mat Zin did not allow bail application for the accused and set September 10 for document submission,” he said in a statement today.
On July 23, the media reported that over 1,000 locations in seven regions in the Klang Valley experienced unscheduled water supply disruptions following the shutdown of four WTPs as a result of incidents of odour pollution in Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah.
Abdul Latiff said strict action under AKAS will be imposed on any party including industry players who are found to be polluting the environment.
AKAS 1974 which was amended and came into effect on July 7, 2024, has given priority to the amendment of punishments, fines, and penalties involving a range of fines between RM5,000 and RM10 million in addition to mandatory imprisonment not exceeding five years.
The compound rate was also increased from a maximum of RM2,000 to not more than 50 per cent of the maximum fine for related offences.
— Bernama
[caption id="attachment_365161" align="aligncenter" width="1095"]
Selangor Water Management Authority personnel empty bags of activated carbon into a drain near Sungai Sembah and Sungai Selangor, after odour pollution detected nearby led a temporary operations halt at the Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2, and 3 water treatment plants, on July 23, 2024. — Picture via FACEBOOK/LEMBAGA URUS AIR SELANGOR[/caption]
