By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Sept 26 — Project developers are urged to adhere to their licensing conditions before implementing any activities, to avoid risking river pollution in Selangor.
State executive councillor for the environment Hee Loy Sian said the water quality, particularly in the main river basin, can be affected by industrial activities, highway construction, agriculture and animal husbandry, among others.
“Not complying with license conditions or authorisation by the project owner can have a big impact on the quality of Selangor’s rivers, in addition to the immoral attitude of certain quarters who unhesitatingly dump scheduled waste into the sewerage system or dispose of illegal waste by riverbanks.
“As such, I call upon all industry players and the wider community at large to pay closer attention to the activities carried out. Irresponsible activities will impact us, and millions of others,” he said.
Hee was speaking at the celebrations to mark 2022 World River Day, under the aegis of the NGO Friends of River (FoR) in the Klang district, at Taman Awam Pengkalan Batu yesterday.
He added that the 2020 amendment to the Luas Enactment 1999 increased the minimum fine to RM200,000 and the maximum to RM1 million, in addition to the mandatory imprisonment sentence of no more than three years, was made with the hope of raising higher public awareness.
“Any convicted offenders must pay all repair costs and pollution restoration works carried out,” he said.
