KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Approximately 2,634 illegal waste disposal sites have been shut down this year, involving 1,500 tonnes of waste, with a cleanup cost of RM412,000, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.
28 court cases have resulted in convictions, with total fines amounting to RM490,000.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), via the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), was tasked with addressing illegal waste disposal in the seven states operating under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007.
These states include Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
"A total of 4,134 inspections were carried out by SWCorp enforcement officers throughout 2024," she said.
Athirah was responding to Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi's query during the oral question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Dr Zulkafperi had inquired about the 2024 illegal waste hotspot closure programme conducted in collaboration with SWCorp.
The deputy minister emphasised that KPKT, through SWCorp, would intensify efforts to combat illegal waste sites. These measures include inspections of disposal hotspots, monitoring through closed-circuit television cameras, and conducting raids and enforcement activities.
— Bernama
