KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is prepared to investigate allegations made against an electronic waste processing plant in Segamat, Johor.
MACC Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission welcomes local authorities to share any useful information related to corruption and abuse of power for it to investigate.
"We welcome local authorities to share information with us. We have no issue examining whether there are any elements of corruption or abuse of power in this case," he said in response to whether MACC would look into allegations made against the e-waste company operating in Segamat.
The e-waste waste company allegedly operating illegally was put under the spotlight on Tuesday, after a Malay daily wrote an exclusive about the factory in Segamat, Johor, suspected of dismantling, processing, and melting e-waste that had been smuggled in without adhering to the required specifications.
The recycling facility is believed to be operating without a permit or license from the Department of Environment to manage and dispose of the e-waste accordingly. This improper operation allegedly has also led to residents nearby experiencing odor pollution.
"I will have the Johor state MACC liaise with the local authorities and relevant agencies to assist with the investigation," he told the New Straits Times, when contacted today.
Azam said e-waste issues are prevalent in several areas, and MACC has previously taken action in a few related investigations.
"We don't take e-waste problems lightly, as it could lead to environmental pollution and beyond. We will conduct a thorough investigation on the matter, including examining how this electronic waste entered the country's ports," he said.
In Malaysia, E-waste is categorised as Scheduled Wastes under the Code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.
E-waste is generally divided into two main types, according to its generation sources, i.e. E-waste generated from the industrial sector and household e-waste which is from broken, non-working, or old/obsolete electric electronic appliances such as TV, PC, mobile phone, air conditioner, washing machine, and refrigerator.
E-waste coded SW110 often contains components such as accumulators, mercury switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass or polychlorinated biphenyl-capacitors, or contaminated with cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, copper, lithium, silver, manganese or polychlorinated biphenyls that could be harmful to human health and the environment.
These harmful materials if not properly disposed will permeate into the earth and subsequently mix into the water sources and pose a serious threat to human as well as aquatic lives.