Activities Report Jul 2000 Newsletter

Kudos to DOE and the public for a job well done 
         The Malaysian Nature Society would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the DOE Selangor for doing a good job in monitoring illegal activities concerning toxic wastes and illegal dumping. The bust yesterday involving two containers with 36 tones of suspected scheduled wastes to Taiwan must be applauded. The department is showing tremendous care and seriousness in battling illegal dumping and shipment of toxic wastes in this country.
       From the beginning of the year, several cases of toxic waste dumping and illegal dumping have come up in the press, most of which were reported by the general public. This is very assuring as the public is starting to exert their rights to a cleaner environment. MNS is very pleased with this and hopes that more individuals and community associations will take the lead in battling environ-mental degradation in their neighbourhood. Among the many examples cited this year includes the dumping
of wastes in between Bandar Tasik Puteri and Bandar Baru Kundang (Jan.3), Air Hitam illegal toxic waste disposal (March 1), Bukit Kapar (March 18) and asbestos dumping at Chemor (March 23).
       Illegal dumping has been a threat in many areas, especially in newly developed areas as well as vacant land. Even forest reserves, riverbanks and ponds have been used as sites for dumping. Usually, it starts of as a site for dumping construction wastes but soon factories find it easier to dump toxic wastes in them. If drums of these toxic wastes were to leak, the substances leach into the ground and into the ground water and soon find their way into our drinking water. Heavy metals, cyanides, asbestos are among other chemicals that can kill and cause countless biological mutations and sicknesses. Not only that, but there will also be a sharp decline in biological diversity in an area affected by toxic wastes.
       The move by DOE to proceed with provisions under the Environment Quality Act to allow the state to claim compensation from the factories caught dumping scheduled waste at Bukit Kapar, for instance, is most welcomed. Other deterrent measures include imposing heavier fines as well as imprisonment for these errant culprits.
       MNS once again congratulates DOE and the public for their concern in battling illegal dumping and hopes that more concerned citizens and community associations will join the bandwagon.

Dato' Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor
Kuala Lumpur, 5 April, 2000 

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Created on 5th Jul 2000