A Chinese national is facing a hefty RM10 million fine and a potential five-year prison sentence after being accused of discharging chemical waste into Selangor's inland waterways last month.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty during a hearing at the Selangor Sessions Court. According to a report by BERNAMA, the incident on July 23 led to severe odour pollution, forcing the closure of several key water treatment plants, including Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, and 3.
Photo via The Star
Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar, the Director-General of the Department of Environment (JAS), stated that the charges were brought under Section 25(3) of the Environmental Quality Act (Amendment) 2024, in conjunction with Section 251 of the same legislation.
“The presiding judge, Nor Rajiah Mat Zin, denied the bail application and scheduled September 10 as the date for document submission,” Wan confirmed.
The chemical spill had far-reaching effects, disrupting water supply to over 1,000 locations across seven regions in the Klang Valley. The shutdown of four water treatment plants was a direct consequence of the odour pollution detected in Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah in Selangor.
Wan also emphasised the government's commitment to holding polluters accountable, stating, “We will take strict action against anyone, including industrial players, who are found guilty of environmental contamination.”
