By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini
SHAH ALAM, July 26 — The Selangor government has collaborated with the Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa) to use satellite data as part of its attempt to stop illegal waste dumping in the state, says state executive councillor for infrastructure Izham Hashim.
Through the collaboration, he said the satellite, which is operated by Mysa, will gather information in all areas across Selangor, identifying the locations most likely to be used for illegal dumping sites.
“Local authorities in the area will review the data provided by the agency and conduct checks in the area. They would act quickly if they discovered that the location had been utilised as an illegal dumping site,” he said when answering a supplementary question from Banting state assemblyman Lau Weng San on the use of advanced technology to combat illegal dumping during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, here today.
Meanwhile, in response to a question from Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze on compound issuance by the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Izham said enforcement measures must be done in accordance with legal standards that are fair and supported by substantial evidence.
“In this case, photographs, videos or recordings of conversations with witnesses to the incident are among the evidence that can be used and produced in court.
“The evidence must clearly show the offenders carried out illegal waste dumping activities under the provisions of the Refuse Collection, Removal and Disposal (Subang Jaya Municipal Council) By-Laws 2007,” he said.
Izham also stated that based on records by MBSJ, from January 2021 to the present, a total of 1,153 compound notices have been issued to violators for illegal dumping of waste.
He said out of the total, some 1,139 compound notices were issued under the provisions of prohibition of littering in public places (By-Law 4), while the remaining 14 compound notices were under the provision of disposal of industrial waste and trade waste (By-Law 12).
“In relation to that, three of the six cases that were moved to the prosecution stage have already been found guilty in court, while the other three are still awaiting the court case’s mention,” he said.
