PETALING JAYA: Following the odour pollution incident and stop work order at the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant at Sungai Selangor here, a surprise check was conducted by the Environment Department (DOE) at the factory at an industrial area at Jalan Kampung Orang Asli on Thursday (July 25).
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was also present, said inspection by the DOE found that the cause of the odour pollution was due to the leakage of a chemical known as Poly Metha Acrylic Acid (PMAA) from a storage tank on the premises.
"The chemical leak caused an odor release due to the strong-smelling characteristics of the PMAA chemical," he said in a statement.
He said among the actions taken by DOE were immediate instructions to the premises owner to conduct cleaning work within the premises and the affected drainage and the stream.
He said the cleaning work has been completed.
He said a total of three evidence samples were collected and submitted to the Chemistry Department of Malaysia for composition analysis and matching tests.
"Apart from that, the operational area of the premises along with the processing equipment has been seized by the DOE through the issuance of an Equipment Operation Detention notice under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act until the investigation is completed," he said, adding that DOE has opened an investigation paper into the incident.
Nik Nazmi said DOE ad also confirmed that two individuals has been detained to facilitate in the investigation under Section 25 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Amendment 2024).
He said the government takes environmental crimes seriously, and this has been reflected through the Environmental Quality Act (Amendment 2024), which provides for mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and a maximum fine of up to RM10 million if convicted of polluting rivers.
"The industry must play a crucial role in ensuring that the operations of their factories or premises comply with all environmental legal requirements and do not cause environmental pollution," he said.
