Johor DOE raids three illegal factories in Pasir Gudang

JOHOR BARU (Bernama): Three factories believed to be operating illegally in Pasir Gudang were raided and action taken against them by enforcement authorities in an integrated operation.

This followed the recent incident where residents suffered breathing difficulties and vomiting.

Director of the Johor Department of Environment (DOE) Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar said the operation by various agencies on Thursday (July 11) halted the operations of these factories, with equipment in one factory confiscated.

The Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) also sealed off the three factories.

“One factory was believed to be recycling used items such as plastics and oil. Another was dealing with metals and the third was separating solid wastes,” he told Bernama on Friday (July 12).

As of 5pm on July 11, the integrated operation which included various government agencies like the DoE and the MPPG inspected 248 factories.

Also in the raiding party were Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin and chairman of the state Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Committee Tan Cheng Choon.

Wan Abdul Latiff said 125 compounds were issued for disposal of scheduled wastes, 10 for industrial effluents and one for sewage plant.

He added that although the initial target of inspecting 250 factories was almost achieved, the department would continue with more inspections.

“We will continue to conduct as many (checks on factories) as possible. I want to do more (than 250 factories),” he said.

According to a posting on the DoE account on Facebook on July 11, the focus of the operations was on illegal factories.

Besides the stop-work order, other action taken against these factories included cutting off electricity supply. – Bernama

Source: TheStar