'Sg Gong factory's previous case never referred to prosecutors'

Attorney-General Idrus Harus has denied Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari’s accusations of inaction over an earlier case of water pollution involving a factory that has also been blamed for the latest water disruption in the state.

He said authorities in Selangor never referred the March 17 case to his office for prosecution, nor did they refer any other cases involving the pollution of raw water sources in the state.

“(Following the latest incident on Sept 3) a joint investigation is being conducted by various relevant agencies.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) was only informed that the various agencies have opened investigation papers that are being completed before being referred to the AGC for further action.

“As such, the Selangor menteri besar’s statement published by Free Malaysia Today on Sept 7 at 12.49pm that the AGC had not taken action against water pollution in March is untrue and completely baseless,” Idrus said in a statement today.

Previously on March 17, Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 and the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plant were shut down due to odour pollution in Sungai Selangor.

The heavy machinery maintenance plant operated by Yip Chee Seng and Sons Sdn Bhd in Sungai Gong was fined RM60,000 for causing the pollution.

The Free Malaysia Today article had quoted Amirudin as saying that following investigations by state authorities, the AGC had not taken action.

“We had a difficult time completing our investigation into the pollution in April but subsequently there was no further action taken by the attorney-general,” he was quoted as saying.

He said the state has no power to punish those responsible for water pollution with jail sentences.

“Only the Environment and Water Ministry could take such action against these offenders under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, as it is federal law,” Amirudin reportedly said.

The same four water treatment plants were shut down when odour pollution was again detected on Sept 3, which cut water supplies to about five million people in the Klang Valley.

Authorities blamed the latest disruption on solvent-like effluents from Yip Chee Seng and Sons.

Idrus said the earlier offence had been investigated by the Selangor Water Management Authority, Air Selangor, the Selangor Environment Department, the Selayang Municipal Council, and the Selangor executive committee on environment.

“The Selangor Environment Department issued 30 compound offers in the field totalling RM60,000 to the owner of Yip Chee Seng and Sons at Lot 4219, Jalan Batu Arang, Kg Sungai Dua, Rawang.

“The compound was issued without any reference of investigation papers to the AGC.

“Apart from the compound issued in March without reference to the AGC, to date, the AGC has never been referred any investigation paper relating to raw water pollution in Selangor,” he added. - Mkini