GEORGE TOWN: A Penang lawmaker has proposed for amendments to existing laws to ensure harsher penalties against those responsible for illegal dumping in the state.
State Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP - Datuk Keramat) described the existing punishments as merely “a pinch on the hand”.
He referred to the incident in Bukit Teh in Bukit Mertajam last month where hundreds of bags of powdery substances were illegally dumped near Kampung Berangan Sembilan.
It was reported that the solid waste, tied in white plastic bags, were piled high and filled a two-hectare field.
He also referred to the Sungai Kim Kim chemical dumping incident in Johor last month. The dumping of the chemical substances on March 7 caused 5,848 people to seek medical treatment after inhaling toxic fumes wafting from the river. The last victim was released from hospital on March 25.
A used tyre processing factory and two of its directors were charged at the Sessions Court with 15 offences under two environmental regulations.
“The time has come for heavier punishments to be imposed on the culprits to ensure such incidents do not recur in future.
“This is not only for Penang but nationwide, as such incidents happened elsewhere as well.
“As such, the provisions of the laws, at both the Federal and state level, should be amended to put in place stiffer penalties,” he said when answering a question by Lee Khai Loon (PKR - Machang Bubuk) on the second day of the state legislative assembly sitting today.
Lee had asked Jagdeep on measures taken by the Penang government against the Bukit Teh polluters.
Jagdeep also said the Bukit Teh incident was first investigated by the Department of Environment in 2017 following complaints by the Fire and Rescue Department after an open burning.
He added that during a visit by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council’s engineering department to the site last month, numerous steps were taken against the owners of the land, including the issuance of stop-work notices and compounds, among others.
To a supplementary question by Lee if the affected sites could be “seized’ by the state under the National Land Code, Jagdeep said it was not possible.
On whether the owners could be taken to court, Jagdeep said this was why harsher penalties were needed to "put a stop to this once and for all".