JOHOR BARU: The authorities are looking for the Singaporean owner of a 3.64ha land that was used as an illegal dumping site along Jalan Kempas Lama-Seelong here.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the owner is being tracked down to assist in investigation into the illegal dumping site, which has been operating for more than three years.
“The land was designated for agricultural use and has been leased by the owner to the current operator to collect rubbish and solid waste.
“The authorities will also determine whether the owner was directly involved in the activities.
“If the owner is found to be involved, necessary action will be taken,” he said after visiting the site yesterday.
Mohd Jafni added that the Land Office would also issue notices to the land owner for failing to pay quit rent for three years.
He said the site has been ordered to shut down immediately following the arrest of a local man and three Bangladeshi nationals suspected of running the illegal dumping operations.
Mohd Jafni said inspections by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corpo-ration (SWCorp) confirmed that the premises had never been issued a licence for the collection of solid waste and construction debris.
“MBJB is also checking on possible violations involving health, building and planning regulations while SWCorp has opened an investigation under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007,” he said.
If convicted, offenders face a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000, imprisonment of up to six months or both.
He also assured residents that Petronas’ technical investigation showed the area is safe from any explosion risk despite the site being located near a gas pipeline.
Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Radin Ramlan Radin Taha, who was also present, said the suspects, aged between 31 and 40, were arrested at about 10.30am on Sunday.
He said the local has been remanded for four days while the three foreigners for 14 days to assist in investigations under the Immigration Act.
Earlier, about 10,000 residents from four villages in Kempas Lama claimed that they had been exposed to safety risks after the site allegedly carried out open burning activities, about 12m from a gas pipeline.
Residents from Kampung Sri Aman, Kampung Tawakkal, Kampung Maju Jaya and Kampung Sinaran Baru said the burning occurred almost every night, raising fears that the fire could spread and trigger a major incident.
Piles of trash ranging from construction debris, abandoned vehicles, household products and utility wires could be seen at the site.
