Sime Darby fined RM13,000 for discharging effluents into Sungai Linggi

 

An analysis by the chemistry department found that the biochemical oxygen demand in Sungai Linggi exceeded the legal threshold due to waste discharged from the factory’s effluent ponds. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A major player in the palm oil sector was fined RM13,000 after its representative pleaded guilty in the Seremban sessions court to polluting Sungai Linggi by discharging effluents beyond the permissible level from its factory ponds early this year.

Sime Darby Plantation Bhd mill manager Ahmad Fauzi Jantan from the Sua Betong factory paid the fine imposed by judge Kamil Nizam last week.

Prosecuting officer Fitri Soroni from the department of environment (DoE) conducted the case.

According to the facts of the case, a team of DoE enforcement officers investigated the factory at about 9.30am on Jan 2 and found that several effluent ponds had discharged waste into the nearby river.

The officers took three samples which were sent to the chemistry department in Melaka for analysis.

The results showed that the biochemical oxygen demand exceeded the legal threshold. The reading was 110mg, surpassing the limit by 10%.

As such, the company had breached the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) Crude Palm Oil Regulation 1977 under the Environment Quality Act 1974, read together with Section 16(1) of the Act.

Those found guilty under this could be fined up to RM250,000.

The DoE in Negeri Sembilan said in a statement that it would not compromise with polluters.

It said the public could report on activities that polluted the environment through its complaints portal, e-aduan.doe.gov.my, call centre at 1-800-88-2727 or via email at aduan_k@doe.gov.my. - FMT