KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to preventing illegal factories from operating on river reserve land, the Dewan Negara was told.
Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said enforcement operations are constantly being carried out on premises as provisioned under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
“We ensure that only competent person are hired in the handling of pollution control equipments.
“Industry effluent discharge are continuously monitored through the Online Environmental Reporting (OER) and the disposal of scheduled wastes through the Electronic Scheduled Waste Information System (e-SWIS),” he said in reply to Senator Datuk Yahaya Mat Ghani @ Abbas who is also Batu Umno division head.
The deputy minister added that enforcement activities are also carried out in the form of field citation, notices, compounds, seizure of equipments, stop work order and prosecution against those who violated the Environmental Quality Act.
He added that factories that occupy government land illegally will not be given a second chance.
“The Natural Resources and Environment ministry will not compromise on such offence.
“We will ask the local government to take swift action and close such factories,” he said.
The ministry has always recommended for factories to be located in industrial zones in line with the Siting and Zoning of Industries and Residential Area guidelines by the Department of Environment (JAS).