SHAH ALAM, Sept 5 — The Selangor State Water Resources Special Selection Committee (JPK-SAS) had reiterated its recommendation for existing laws to be amended to include harsher penalties against water polluters.
Committee chairman Michelle Ng had raised the matter on Twitter last night in response to a statement by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who said that he will bring the proposed amendment of existing laws to the Cabinet.
“JPK-SAS said it before and done the homework for you — firstly, make odour pollution an offence. Secondly, increase fine up to RM1 million. Thirdly, the minimum fine should be RM200,000,” Ng Tweeted adding that the current maximum fine is only RM70,000.
“Fourthly, jail term should be mandatory, and fifth, those who aid and abet must be punished similarly as the main offender.”
The Subang Jaya state assemblyman had also shared a news report dated July 16, where she had urged the Federal Government to make similar amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Local Government Act 1976 and Water Services Industry Act 2006.
Earlier, committee member and Kota Anggerik state assemblyman Najwan Halimi had also called for the laws to be further tightened to curb a recurrence of water pollution incidents as well as to serve as a deterrent.
He said the Selangor Water Management Authority Enactment 1999 has to be amended to include jail time and increasing the fines as many still continue to break the law due to the lax existing rules.
Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and the Rantau Panjang water treatment plants were shut down on Thursday morning due to odour pollution of the raw water source.
The pollution affected 1.2 million consumer accounts in 1,292 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.
