GEORGE TOWN: Environmental groups have urged Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) to close down all illegal factories operating in the state.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the state government's efforts to purportedly legalised illegal factories operations was taking too long.
He said all illegal factories need to be closed down immediately.
"All relevant authorities, including the local councils and Department of Environment (DoE) must work together to cripple the operation of these illegal factories. Close it down and demolish their buildings...no need to wait.
"They must go one-by-one and the factories may resume operations after they had adhered to the requirements by the authorities and obtained a licence," he said when contacted.
Idris said it was imperative for the authorities to take action because the illegal factories had contributed to pollution over the last few years.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang branch advisor D. Kanda Kumar echoed the same sentiment and urged authorities to be stricter when dealing with illegal factories.
He said that Penang was not the only state that has illegally operated factories.
"Respective parties must do their duty and not let these illegal factories to continue operating. We must not wait until a catastrophe happens and only then actions will be taken," he added.
Meanwhile, both local councils when contacted today appeared to be keeping mum on the issue following the arrest of a state executive councillor and two men by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday.
Yesterday, People's Alternative Party (PAP) claimed that there are more than 200 illegal factories throughout Penang, with majority of them situated on the mainland.