By Sheeda Fathil
HULU LANGAT, June 25 — The state government is currently in the process of signing the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672) via KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM).
State executive councillor for local government Dato’ Ng Suee Lim said the act, which was drafted and gazetted at the Federal level in 2007, is expected to be signed by Selangor at the end of this year.
“If there are no obstacles, we will sign Act 672 through KDEBWM at the end of the year, and then enforcement against illegal dumping activities can be implemented more strictly.
“Using this Act, the penalties are more severe, with fines of RM100,000 and five years imprisonment, compared to the current local authority by-laws, which only impose a fine of RM1,000.
“But this amount may not impact the involved syndicates, and such illegal activities may reoccur in the future,” he said.
Ng was speaking to the press after an inspection operation at an illegal dump site within the Kajang Municipal Council in Bandar Mahkota Cheras yesterday.
He added that the Housing and Local Government Ministry will review the penalties under Act 672 from time to time to ensure they are effective against the illegal syndicates.
“The minister (Nga Kor Ming) is aware of the need to review the penalties, and perhaps we can emulate the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas), which imposes a RM1 million fine for water pollution offences.
“I believe this would have a more significant deterrent effect on the offenders. However, as a community, I advise everyone to be responsible and work together with the state to prevent such activities,” Ng said.
Yesterday’s inspection operation was conducted at three sites alongside Luas and the Department of Environment.
Most of the waste found consisted of construction and domestic waste. The councillor also plans to install closed-circuit cameras in areas suspected of being used as illegal dumping sites.
Act 672 aims to ensure uniformity in the laws for the control and regulation of matters related to solid waste management and public cleansing.
