Over 4,000 unlicensed factories in Selangor
Ng (seated, fourth from left) at the press conference after chairing the meeting on illegal factories. — KK SHAM/The Star
A TOTAL of 4,170 unlicensed factories have been identified operating illegally throughout Selangor.
State local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said this marked a reduction from the over 6,000 premises previously recorded.
'This updated figure follows a comprehensive whitening exercise carried out by the special committee on illegal factories.
'It serves as the foundation for the three-year Legalising of Unlicensed Factories programme (PPKTK), running from 2024 to 2027,' Ng said at a press conference after chairing a meeting by the standing committee on illegal factories at Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSAAS) in Shah Alam.
The meeting was attended by representatives from several state agencies including the Selangor Land and Mines Office (PTGS) and Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (Upen).
Ng said Selangor aimed to assist unlicensed factory operators in transitioning to legal operations.
'However, enforcement action will be taken against those who continue to refuse to come forward,' Ng warned.
'So far, 90 notices under Section 7A have been issued, and the state government expects to issue 500 notices by July.
'These notices instruct landowners to restore land that has been misused, such as for the construction of factories on agricultural land,' he said.
Ng identified Klang and Petaling as focus areas for enforcement, due to the number of structures built on government land without approval.
'There are 17 factories in Klang and 51 in Petaling operating on government land, including road reserves.
'These include furniture factories, lorry depots, machinery workshops, aluminium workshops, and storage areas for heavy machinery like forklifts,' he said.
Ng emphasised that the legalisation offer was a final opportunity for operators to come forward.
'The state government is being fair to all parties.
'It is not right for compliant factories operating in industrial zones to be burdened by illegal competitors,' he said.
It was previously announced that the legalisation programme would adopt a dual approach of incentives and enforcement.
Among the special offers are a 30% discount on land premiums, development charges, and contributions to the Infrastructure Services Fund (ISF).
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