GOVT TO REVIEW LICENSING PROCESS
Ministry aims to improve operations, monitoring of factories
cnews@nstp.com.my
THE government will review existing guidelines of licence applications for factories that use hazardous chemicals and produce waste that need to be disposed of.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry would bring up the matter before the cabinet.
She said such a review was necessary to prevent the recurrence of the Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste pollution.
“The ministry will have a coordinating meeting with local councils and the Department of Environment (DoE) to improve the operation and monitoring of factories that use hazardous chemicals and need to dispose of their waste.
“It (bringing the outcome to the cabinet) will be the next step and it is something that we will decide on and set up guidelines,” said Zuraida.
She was speaking after visiting the medic base at Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) Indoor Stadium here.
Present was Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid and Johor fire and rescue director Datuk Yahaya Madis.
Zuraida said MPPG and DoE had been instructed to inspect and monitor all 250 factories that use chemical substances in their jurisdiction to prevent the recurrence of the pollution incident.
“The operational effectiveness of the machines and equipment at these factories need to be monitored.
“This is because there may be a period when the machines and equipment may not operate properly, and or there may be a leak that could cause the waste to be discharged into the rivers,” said Zuraida.
She said the Sungai Kim Kim operation, which began on March 7, saw a total of 153 Fire and Rescue Department personnel, including 70 members from the Hazardous Material Unit (Hazmat), involved in the clean-up process.