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