No law against stinking up the air

DAP will raise the issue at the next sitting of Parliament.

SENAWANG: DAP will seek the introduction of a law to ensure that the air Malaysians breathe is free of foul smelling pollutants.

P Gunasekaran, the state assemblyman for Senawang, said it was remarkable that after 55 years of independence, Malaysia still had no such law.

This shortcoming in the law came to light during a meeting last week to discuss pollution caused by a factory producing biodiesel in Taman Sri Mawar.

Platinum Green Chemicals, the company that owns the factory, called the town meeting following a FMT report about the pollution. Department of Environment (DOE) officials present at the meeting told Gunasekaran there was no law to which they could refer in checking odour levels emitted by factories.

During the meeting, Platinum assured Taman Sri Mawar residents that it was addressing their complaints about the stink and noise coming from its factory.

According to DOE, the odour from the factory was not an indication that the air contained pollutants hazardous to health.

Gunasekaran was satisfied with DOE’s explanation and Platinum’s assurances, but he told FMT he was shocked to learn about the lack of a law to control odours.

He said he had raised his concerns with Rasah MP Loke Siew Fook, who promised to raise the issue in Parliament at its next sitting.