ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Environment and Water Ministry discovered toxic wastes in 110 containers that were in transit at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas ( PTP) here last month.
Its minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the discovery of the waste weighing 1,864 tonnes by the Department of Environment (DoE) was the largest since Malaysia signed the Basel Convention in 1993.
"The containers were discovered by PTP on June 3 and were confirmed by DoE as containing electric arc furnace (EAF) residue on June 15. In the declaration form, the containers were declared as zinc concentrate.
"The containers originated from Romania and their final destination is Indonesia," said Tuan Ibrahim.
EAF residue is classified as a toxic and dangerous material under the Basel Convention and as a scheduled waste under the Environment Quality Regulations (Scheduled Waste) 2006.
It is the waste product of the metal industry and contains dangerous heavy metals like zinc, ferum, chromium, cadmium and lead.
"The DoE has never approved or received any notification from the exporter about the containers being in transit in Malaysia.
"Following the discovery, the department informed the Basel Convention authority for Romania regarding the repatriation of the containers to the country of origin."
Tuan Ibrahim was speaking to the media after checking the containers at the port here. Also present were the ministry's secretary General Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang and DoE director General Norlin Jaafar.
Tuan Ibrahim also said the ministry has contacted Interpol for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Zaini said the containers will be returned to Romania as soon as possible.
"The cost of returning containers will be borne by the shipping company," said Zaini.
He added that between Jan 1 and June 30 this year, a total of 28 cases of illegal importation of scheduled waste were discovered and stopped by the DoE with the cooperation of the Customs Department and port authorities.
"In all the cases, the wastes were returned to the countries of origin," said Zaini.