Rawang folk complain of daily ‘burning smell’ from nearby factory

 

Smoke still emanates from the facility, although authorities say the leakages have been dealt with. (Lam Choong Wah pic)

PETALING JAYA: There seems to be no end in sight to the plight of residents of a Rawang neighbourhood who complain they have had to endure the stench of air pollution caused by a nearby asphalt plant for years.

Those affected have put up with a “burning smell” every day, which makes them cough and suffer from sore throats, said Lam Choong Wah, a long time resident of the Batu 15 settlement and air pollution campaigner.

He said their cars and homes have also become covered in dust from the air.

He said the factory is located near residential areas like Taman Setia and Taman Setia Jaya, as well as the Reef Commercial Centre. An estimated 5,000 people are affected.

The problem has persisted despite residents’ numerous complaints to authorities.

The matter was also raised in Parliament by Selayang MP William Leong. In a written parliamentary reply, the minister for natural resources, environment and climate change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said an environment department inspection in April 2022 found there was a leakage in the air pollution control system at the factory which he said had since been dealt with.

However, Lam said the pollution had not stopped and he had filed another complaint with Nik Nazmi in March.

FMT has reached out to the minister and the factory’s owner, Sunway Berhad for comment.

Meanwhile, Leong said he has asked the environment department to further investigate the factory.

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“The residents told me that the factory also operates at night, because roadworks are normally heard during that hour,” he told FMT, adding that he would schedule another meeting with the department for further discussions. - FMT