GEORGE TOWN: The proposed amendment to the Water Industry Act 2006, to include a heavier punishment for polluters, is not enough to stop the water pollution that is happening, the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) said.
Its president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the government should also shut down errant factories permanently and revoke the licence of companies that damage the environment with their activities.
"Furthermore, factories should not be permitted to operate close to the rivers or other water sources.
"The government must also ensure that there is adequate manpower and competent staff to enforce the law," he said today.
Mohideen said as far back as 2019; CAP had been calling on the government to amend the law to ensure that culprits who polluted the nation's water sources faced the harshest punishments possible.
As such, he said, CAP commended the decision and efforts by the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry to get the Water Industry Act 2006 amended to include a heavier punishment for polluters.
"The current punishment of a RM100,000.00 fine and/or a one-year jail term is insufficient to be a deterrent.
"The new amendment will introduce a maximum fine of RM10 million and/or a jail term of 15 years is more appropriate.
"Nevertheless, this proposed amendment is not enough to stop water pollution," he added.
Mohideen said last year alone; there were numerous reports about the horrible condition of many natural water sources (rivers and lakes) due to rampant pollution.
He cited several examples. They are:
* Pig waste dumped into the Sungai Rambai and Tanjung Sepat, polluting the water and turning it into a black sludge;
* Uncontrolled logging at Tasik Kenyir caused the lake water to turn murky and muddy with little bits of wood floating in the water;
* Uncontrolled mining at Tasik Biru Ibam caused the lake water to be murky and cloudy;
* Errant factories that release the effluent into Sungai Kabul;
* People throwing their everyday garbage into rivers and lakes in Johor Baru; and
* Tasik Chini's status as part of Unesco's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) came into question because of the uncontrolled mining, logging and forest clearing for palm tree plantation, causing severe damage to the lake and the surrounding flora and fauna.
"It is apparent that we need more than heavier fines and longer jail sentences to stop the pollution of our natural water sources from happening," he stressed.