'Catch them!' - Councils told to crack down on illegal waste dumpers

Penang has vowed to take firm action against those involved in illegal dumping of waste.

Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said the local councils - Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) - have been instructed to nab the perpetrators of the act.

"I have instructed them to be firm as we will not tolerate such behaviour and those who are found to be involved must be brought to justice," Jagdeep told reporters today.

"Catch them!" he said, warning the perpetrators that they can be brought before the court to determine their punishment.

Asked what laws can be used against the perpetrators, Jagdeep said "At this point, we will use the 1976 Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 Environmental Quality Act and 1974 Street and Drainage Act to deal with these cases".

"Punishment could range from fines of anywhere from RM5,000 to RM500,000 or up to five years jail depending on the provision used," he added.

Asked how many cases are under the council's scrutiny, Jagdeep said he would wait for a report before commenting on the matter.

" We have to act on the perpetrators to set an example for everyone not to commit or repeat the act of dumping waste illegally," Jagdeep said.

Jagdeep's said this after several illegal dumping locations were detected in Penang, especially on the mainland in Prai and Bukit Mertajam.

In March, a large illegal dumping ground for plastics and other solid wastes was uncovered near Machang Bubok on the mainland.

It was reportedly the size of six football fields, with heaps of shredded plastic, furniture and construction wastes found on the site of the former unlicensed sand quarry.

Last month, the MPSP full council meeting revealed that there were 404 plastic recycling factories on the mainland alone.

It was reported that the parliamentary areas with the highest number of such factories are Batu Kawan (239), Bukit Mertajam (59), Nibong Tebal (34), Tasek Gelugor (25), Bagan (23), Kepala Batas (13) and Permatang Pauh (11).

Of the 404 factories, 390 are licensed while the rest are illegal. - Mkini