KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Selangor recorded the highest number of environmental complaints nationwide, with over 4,000 cases reported to the Environment Department (DOE) between January 1 and September 30 this year.
Its deputy director (enforcement) Ahmad Saifful Salihin said Johor recorded the second most complaints with 2,104, followed by Perak (1,034), Penang (977), and Kuala Lumpur (894). Nationwide, 13,296 complaints were lodged during the same period.
“Selangor continues to record the highest number of complaints, with a total of 4,041 complaints (this year),” he said in his presentation during the DOE’s engagement session with media practitioners at the Pavilion Hotel today.
Saifful added that Selangor and Johor consistently recorded the highest figures, with the two states accounting for about 46 per cent of the 72,717 complaints received nationwide between 2021 and September this year.
Air pollution accounted for the largest share of complaints in 2026 at 11,301, or 84.3 per cent of the total complaints received nationwide during the nine-month period.
Of that figure, open burning made up the largest share with 9,752 cases, followed by odour (1,697), dust (796), industrial emissions (388), and smoke (117).
Selangor also recorded the highest number of open burning complaints at 2,849, followed by Johor (1,338), Perak (870), Penang (792), and Kuala Lumpur (774).
He said the complaints were received through various channels, including the DOE’s complaint management system, the online complaint portal, its hotline, and email.
“All complaints received will be accepted and checked to determine whether they are substantiated and if they fall under the department’s jurisdiction,” Saifful said.
Complaints that were found to be outside the DOE’s jurisdiction would be referred to the relevant agencies for further action.
Meanwhile, he said that the DOE has issued 3,567 compounds worth RM2.8 million as of September 30 this year, while 238 court cases involving 236 charges were recorded up to July.
