PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has expressed concern over the existence of e-waste processing syndicates.
Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, said these processing plants involved elements of crime, misuse of power and corruption, and they also posed health risks to nearby communities.
"We have carried out an investigation to identify if there were related elements. The e-waste was brought in from foreign countries and dumped here (in Malaysia)," he said at the MACC headquarters here today.
He added that investigations into the e-waste processing plant identified in Johor recently were ongoing.
Illegal electronic waste processing plants caught the police's attention following a recent raid in Johor.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain was quoted saying the police were paying serious attention to such plants, which were notorious for causing noise and air pollution.
He also said the locations of these illegal plants would be determined in phases by Bukit Aman's Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Unit.
Razarudin's comments followed the discovery of an e-waste plant believed to be operating illegally in Segamat, Johor.
It was reported that the plant was allegedly operating without a permit and did not adhere to the rules and specifications set by the Environment Department.
Police raided the plant after receiving complaints from nearby communities about an odour coming from its premises at night.