KUALA LUMPUR: Police have raided six premises in Klang, Selangor, for illegally processing electronic waste (e-waste), including metal and plastics, with an estimated seizure amount of over RM41 million.
Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department acting director Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said checks revealed several violations, including the failure to present valid documentation for carrying out processing activities in the area.
"In this operation, the raiding team detained and questioned six citizens and 43 foreign nationals aged between 22 and 60.
"The Malaysians are believed to have acted as coordinators, profiting from the activities. The unlicensed and unregistered factory, which has earned millions of ringgit, was found to be employing foreign workers.
"The team discovered electrical and electronic materials categorised as e-waste, which were to be recycled and processed to extract valuable metals such as copper, iron, and tin.
"It confiscated these items, with the total estimated value of the seizures amounting to RM41,588,501.00," he said in a statement.
He also said the illegal disposal of e-waste and plastic waste, which contain toxic substances, could lead to serious health complications for the public exposed to this pollution.
Among the items seized are 2,800kg of stainless steel, 83,700kg of aluminium, 6,000kg of iron, 6,000kg of solid iron, 10,500kg of CPU cases, 3,000kg of batteries, 37,000kg of copper, 30,000kg of plastic, 103,000kg of processed cables and 50 e-waste processing machines, as well as 14 vehicles, five containers and documents, invoices and receipts in the name of each relevant company.
The raids were conducted through the department's main intelligence division, the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigations Unit, along with the Federal Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation team, the Selangor Department of Environment, the Energy Commission, the National Water Services Commission, and the Royal Klang City Council (MBDK) on Sept 12 in the vicinity of Pandamaran, Klang.
Yusoff said investigations were carried out under the Trade, Business and Industrial Licensing By-Laws (Klang Municipal Council) 2007; The Advertisement By-Laws (Klang Municipal Council) 2007; Section 46(1)(D) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974;
IV. Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63; Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63; Regulation 39B of the Immigration Regulations 1963; and Sections 18, 25, 34A, and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
"All arrests and seizures under the Immigration Act 1959/63 have been taken to the Klang Selatan District Police Headquarters for further action.
"Offences under the Trade, Business and Industrial Licensing By-Laws have been compounded by MBDK for operating without a licence.
"The Selangor Department of Environment has also acted by issuing a compound and seizing materials under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for the offence of not having an effluent treatment system for plastic washing activities," he said.