2,500 illegal factories found operating in Johor

 

One of the factories, which was found to be carrying out recycling activities illegally, had polluted Sungai Johor earlier this year. (Bernama pic)

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 2,513 illegal factories have been found operating without a licence in Johor.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Ayub Jamil said the Iskandar Puteri City Council recorded the highest number of illegal factories -1,694.

This was followed by the Johor Bahru City Council with 190 factories and the Kulai Municipal Council with 182.

“All 16 of Johor’s local councils have taken the initiative to carry out monitoring and integrated enforcement on a periodic basis to eradicate factories operating illegally,” Ayub said at the state assembly today.

“Legal action will be taken against those who do not comply with the rules, including seizing or demolishing the factories.”

Answering a question from Zulkurnain Kamisan (BN-Sri Medan), Ayub said the Iskandar Puteri City Council was working on a complete inventory of all the industrial areas under its jurisdiction.

In another development, Ayub said an illegal factory along Jalan Kulai-Kota in Kulai, carrying out recycling activities, was found to have polluted Sungai Johor between July and August.

He said the Kulai Municipal Council had carried out three raids on the factory since August.

The Johor Water Regulatory Body had found an abnormal odour in treated water at a plant on July 19. A subsequent investigation by the council’s licensing division revealed that the factory did not have a licence and was conducting illegal recycling activities.

The council then issued a compound notice in accordance with Section 70 (1) and Section 72 (1) (b) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 to force the owners of the premises to demolish the building. - FMT