Lorry to get tested for illegal waste
18-wheeler suspected in S’gor river pollution case
SEREMBAN: Forensic tests will be carried out on an 18-wheeler seized in Kota Baru to establish if it carried waste in an illegal dumping incident in an industrial area in Nilai, which led to the closure of two water treatment plants in Selangor.
State deputy police chief SAC Che Zakaria Othman said police hope to wrap up investigations after obtaining a remand order against the lorry driver and attendant detained linked with the case after a police report lodged by the National Water Services Commission on Monday.
He said police have also seized several documents on the cargo transported by the lorry owned by a Kota Baru-based company.
“Police managed to trace the vehicle back to Kelantan after getting public feedback.
“We asked the court for a sevenday remand as we need to look at all angles,” he told reporters at the state police contingent here.
On Tuesday, SAC Che Zakaria said police had obtained leads into the case, and were already on the trail of those behind the illegal act.
Based on preliminary findings, the waste dumped along the banks of Sg Batang Benar at the Nilai Industrial Area near here were brought in from another state.
The dumping of the liquid and semi-solid organic compounds disrupted operations at the Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants last Sunday, leading to water cut to 309,867 account holders of Air Selangor in 274 areas in the Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang districts.
Supply is expected to resume in stages until tomorrow.
Authorities have yet to establish if it was scheduled or domestic waste, or if it was the main cause of the contamination of Sg Semenyih.
Samples have been sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
Separately, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun urged all parties to stop blaming a goose farm operator for causing the pollution.
“It is true that the operator has been running the farm for the past four years without a valid license, but we do not have any proof to suggest he is responsible.
“Some people had also said that the pollution was caused by industry operators in Negri Sembilan, but police say that the waste may have been brought in from elsewhere,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting.
Aminuddin said the state government will also reward anyone who provides authorities with information on illegal dumping activities.