SHAH ALAM, March 13 — The Environment Department (DOE) has issued 103 directive notices to consignees for the repatriation of containers containing electronic waste (e-waste) to their countries of origin, following inspections conducted under Op Bongkar at Port Klang.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) said that the enforcement operation, carried out from Tuesday (March 3) to Monday (March 9), was aimed at assessing the contents of containers suspected of illegally transporting electronic waste through the port.
“To date, the DOE has issued 103 directive notices, under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, to the consignees.
“The notices instruct that containers identified as containing e-waste be returned to their countries of origin, and the authorities are currently awaiting feedback from the consignees involved,” it said in a statement today.
The NRES' secretary-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin also conducted a visit to Port Klang today, together with the ministry’s top management and DOE officers, to review the latest developments following the implementation of Op Bongkar.
It follows a working visit by NRES Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup to the same port on February 28, to assess the level of enforcement operations on the ground.
During her visit, Anis also chaired a coordination meeting with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, and the Port Klang Authority, to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and expedite the resolution of the container congestion issue.
“This field visit reflects the continued commitment of NRES and the DOE to ensure that environmental laws are enforced firmly, effectively and in an integrated manner, in line with the MADANI government’s efforts to address e-waste smuggling activities more comprehensively,” the NRES said.
