River polluters may face mandatory jail, says ministry

 

The majority of the rivers in Penang have been graded as Class III, which means extensive treatment is required to rehabilitate them. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: The Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 will be amended in phases to ensure stricter action can be taken against environmental criminals, including those who pollute the rivers.

The environment and water ministry, through the department of environment (DoE), said the first phase would involve increasing the maximum and minimum fines and penalties, and mandatory imprisonment to ensure stricter action could be taken against offenders.

The DoE said this in response to a local daily’s report which revealed that the majority of Penang’s rivers were in Class III. It said the amendments to the act were awaiting review and approval from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“The Phase 2 amendments involve a comprehensive strengthening of the act and are being refined by experts and other stakeholders,” it said.

The report said of the seven main rivers in Penang, six are in Class III, according to the Water Quality Index (WQI) readings from 2016 to 2022.

The Class III classification means that extensive treatment is required to rehabilitate rivers.

It was also reported that 26 of 33 river tributaries that flowed into the seven main rivers were slightly polluted or polluted based on the WQI.

According to the Penang River Quality 2021 (interim) data released by the state DoE, 21 of the river tributaries were slightly polluted, five were polluted and seven were clean. - FMT