Waste dumped in Klang pollutes land, kills cows, says farmer

Cattle herder S. Suresh claims that it is this waste flowing from factories that is killing his cows. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Raymund Wong, July 27, 2015.

It was only after three of his cows died that cattle herder S. Suresh discovered the waste being dumped behind a stretch of factories in Klang, Selangor. Suresh believes this waste was responsible for killing his cows.

The site in question is behind the factories on Jalan Haji Abdul Manan 1, which Suresh claims to be the cause of the problem.

“It was a few months back when some of my cows became sick and three died. I normally leave them to graze around the area, so I went in search of the source of the problem,” he said.

“I saw a pit of waste was streaming out from behind the factories.”

Suresh said he often allowed his cows to roam the area to graze.

Checks by The Malaysian Insider revealed a stretch of at least 150m of dumped waste that was left stagnant next to an oil palm plantation.

Gloves, garbage and plastic debris could be seen in the dump, which in turn seemed to have eroded the soil. There was also a purple-like substance in the polluted water.

Suresh said the he hoped the authorities could investigate and settle the issue quickly.

“This has been here for far too long, it should be cleaned up. It is not even a proper drain, all the waste and water is just left stagnant,” he said.

Department of Environment director-general Datuk Halimah Hassan told The Malaysian Insider officers would investigate.

“If it is illegal dumping of municipal waste, we will channel it to Klang Municipal Council. We will take action for polluted sources that fall foul of the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” she said.

- TMI