Sg Gong pollution: Cops moot classifying act as organised crime, use Sosma

In light of the recent Selangor water crisis, police are considering classifying incidents of water source pollution as “organised crime”, if elements of sabotage are detected.

Doing so will enable action to be taken under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Sosma allows detention without trial for a maximum period of 28 days.

Speaking at a press conference today, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the Criminal Investigation Division had mooted the idea in a recent discussion with Attorney-General Idrus Harun about the crisis.

“We are always looking at what is the best law to use to address this case.

“For one, if there are elements of sabotage and if this is a repeated act, we can classify it as jenayah terancang (organised crime) and actions can be taken under Sosma,” he said.

Hamid added that this approach could be used for future cases as well.

Police previously arrested four individuals in connection with the odour pollution detected at Sungai Gong in Rawang, Selangor.

They were reportedly investigated under Section 430 of the Penal Code (Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water). The offence carries a jail sentence between five and 30 years, or a fine, or both.

IGP assures 'no cover-up'

The pollution resulted in the closure of four water treatment plants servicing the Klang Valley, affecting some 1.2 million water bill accounts for several days.

A factory located in the Rawang industrial area is suspected to have caused the pollution.

The state government has since ordered the factory to be closed and demolished after it was found to be operating without planning permission from the Selayang City Council.

Hamid assured today that the police were conducting a transparent and thorough investigation into the incident.

He called for patience and warned the public against taking matters into their own hands.

“My advice is that we be patient. Believe that the investigation is being done transparently, the police have no interest in covering this up or minimising the degree of the offence.

“There is no cover-up. I ask the public to be patient,” he stressed.

Abdul Hamid Bador

Gambling: No corruption by Sg Buloh cops

Meanwhile, Hamid said he had got to the bottom of a probe into whether Sungai Buloh police were involved in keeping unlicensed gambling centres in business.

The investigation, initiated last month, was triggered by a now-viral video on the illicit centres.

Hamid said no elements of corruption were found among the officers. What the probe did uncover was “weaknesses” in follow-up procedures despite many raids on such premises.

“They conducted more than 400 raids last year and so far this year they have conducted more than 100 raids...

“But there are weaknesses. There were no follow-ups. I have reprimanded them about this,” he added.

Hamid noted that the Sungai Buloh district police station faced infrastructure challenges as it was ill-equipped with a sub-par building and very limited police quarters.

It was reported that eight Shah Alam City Council officers and one trader were previously arrested by the MACC in connection with the unlicensed gambling centres. - Mkini