CAP: Do not let the pollution of the Skudai River meet the same fate as the Kim Kim River

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Johor Department of Environment (DOE) to take stern action under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against factory operators identified as being involved in the recent pollution of the Skudai River.

CAP is concerned with the incident because it not only pollutes the river but can also affect the health of consumers if the problem persists.

Therefore, CAP calls on the DOE to impose severe punishment on the factory operators involved based on the severity of the adverse effects caused by the threat of pollution. Ongoing investigations and monitoring should also be done by DOE so that this incident does not recur.

A week ago the Skudai River was reported to have white foam and the results of the DOE’s investigation found that a metal factory in the Senai Industrial Area Phase III was suspected to have caused this problem.

CAP regrets that in recent years, river pollution incidents in this state have occurred frequently and has raised concerns among the residents that are involved; and we hope that the Skudai River does not meet the same fate as the Kim Kim River near Pasir Gudang.

The Johor Government, Local Authorities, DOE and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) need to conduct surveys and more frequent inspections on all factories in the state to ensure that there are no operators that make the irrigation system into a toxic waste pond.

CAP asserts that all rules enshrined under the existing law must be strictly enforced without fear or favour.

CAP also calls on the government to make public the results of the investigation and the action taken in regards to the problem of the pollution of the Skudai River immediately.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)

Press Statement, 13 May 2022

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