Suhakam: Stiffer penalties for water pollution sorely needed

 

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has repeated its call for effective enforcement of the law including stiffer penalties for perpetrators of water pollution in order to protect the people’s right to clean water.

It cited the recent Sungai Semenyih pollution which has caused ongoing disruptions to water supply for 309,687 consumers in 274 areas including Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang.

"This came about almost a month after the recent Sungai Gong pollution in Selangor last month.

"The recurrence of these incidents in such a short period reflects the seriousness of the issue and calls for prompt measures to be taken by the government to protect public health and the environment," said the human rights body in a statement today.

Selangor State Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation and Consumer Affairs Committee chairperson Hee Loy Sian (above) had said that the latest case was believed to be due to a major cleaning up exercise at a duck and goose farm located beside Sungai Pajam in Negeri Sembilan.

Hee said last month that a joint operation by the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas), Jabatan Air Selangor and his office found that a heavy machinery maintenance plant operated by Yip Chee Seng and Sons Sdn Bhd had discharged the effluents that caused the Sungai Gong pollution.

Suhakam noted that the Selangor state government was considering amendments to the Selangor Water Management Authority Enactment 1999 to increase the penalty for water pollution.

"At the same time, Suhakam stresses that business entities are also responsible for ensuring that the conduct of their activities is in full compliance with the relevant laws and human rights standards to protect natural resources including rivers and streams."

Last month Hee himself called for stricter penalties.

"The Environmental Quality Act, 1974 (Section 29) which covers the prohibition of discharge of wastes into Malaysian waters allows for a fine of RM500,000 and a jail term of five years.

"I am given to understand that Jabatan Air Selangor is working on a proposal to increase this fine to RM1,000,000,” he said.

The current Luas Enactment 1999 allows perpetrators to be slapped with a fine of not more than RM100,000 or a jail term of not more than three years.

"We will take this to the next Selangor state assembly session with a proposal to increase the penalty to a minimum of RM200,000 and a maximum of RM1,000.000,” Hee said.

Meanwhile, Suhakam will be organising a forum on "The Right to Clean Water in Malaysia" to discuss the gaps and challenges in realising the right to clean water in Malaysia, among others. 

The forum is scheduled to be held on Nov 18. - Mkini