A lorry driver has been fined a maximum of RM100,000 for causing pollution by the illegal disposal of scheduled waste in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, Johor in 2019.
The Department of Environment (DOE) in a statement said N Maridass was found to have released oil sludge, a scheduled waste listed in the First Schedule of the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, into the river.
It added that P Tech Resources Sdn Bhd, which faced eight charges under the Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 2014, was also fined RM40,000 for each charge, making it a total of RM320,000.
According to the statement, the cases against Maridass and P Tech Resources were tried together and 38 witnesses were called to testify.
Johor Bahru Sessions Court Judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim handed down the sentence on Nov 30 after the accused pleaded guilty to the charges.
The 2019 pollution incident rocked the country as it affected the health of over 2,000 people, with 947 receiving treatment at the Sultan Ismail hospital - nine of them in the intensive care unit.
At the time, 111 schools in Pasir Gudang were also ordered to be closed.
Meanwhile, DOE said it was committed to dealing with any environmental pollution issue, and all parties are warned strictly not to illegally dispose of toxic and hazardous waste or cause environmental pollution.
“It is the responsibility of the industry players to ensure environmental management, including toxic and hazardous waste management (scheduled waste), air, and water pollution control is carried out properly to prevent pollution that has the potential to pose a risk to the environment and the well-being of the community,” read the statement.
- Bernama
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