Water polluters in Selangor to face minimum RM200,000 fine
THOSE who cause river pollution in Selangor will face a minimum fine of RM200,000, but not exceeding RM1 million, and a jail term of up to three years, following an amendment to the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) Enactment 1999.
Under the current Section 70 of the LUAS Enactment, anyone caught polluting water is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both, and a further fine of RM5,000 for each day the offence is continued after a notice by LUAS requiring compliance has been served.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said LUAS was improving the LUAS Enactment 1999 and a bill would be tabled at the next state assembly sitting to address river pollution.
“The improved LUAS legislation will cover all aspects of the state’s water resource management, especially in strengthening the laws to enable higher fines for polluters.
“The Department of Environment is also reviewing and amending the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for stricter punishment for water polluters.”
The text of his speech was read out by state Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Modernisation of Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Committee chairman Izham Hashim at the state-level World Rivers Day celebration and the launch of the Friends of River Initiative in Subang Jaya, near here, on Saturday.
Amirudin said the executive council had decided that LUAS set up a team to improve monitoring of water resources and river basins to boost enforcement.
He said LUAS’ Skuad Pantas would conduct 24-hour monitoring in vital water areas in the Sungai Selangor, Sungai Langat and Sungai Klang basins to prevent pollution and minimise disruption to water treatment plants’ operations.
“The establishment of this squad is to strengthen the state government’s initiative, Op Sumber Air, which started in March with various agencies.
“Seven pollution incidents that could have disrupted water treatment plants (yellow code) and water supply were stopped through Op Sumber Air. We hope monitoring and enforcement will be more stringent with this squad.”