RM66.6mil worth of e-waste seized in DOE's Op Hazard raids nationwide
DOE's principal assistant director of the Hazardous Materials Division, Thahirah Kamarulzaman, said the seizures were the result of joint enforcement raids on 42 illegal e-waste premises, out of 122 inspected across the country.
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Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Over 400 tonnes of hazardous battery waste found at unlicensed Kedah factory, DOE seizes equiment
ALOR SETAR, Aug 6 — The Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) has enforced Equipment Operation Seizure (POK) provisions against a factory in the Bukit Selambau Industrial Area, Sungai Petani, suspected of conducting unlicensed off-site scheduled waste storage and recovery activities. Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakian Syed Sahab said the action was taken during an 'Op Gempur' operation from 9am to 1pm yesterday, which revealed the facility was operating without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval or a valid DOE licence. 'During the inspection, we found approximately 100 metric tonnes of used lithium batteries and around 317 metric tonnes of crushed used batteries, both classified as scheduled waste,' she said in a statement. Additionally, about 20 metric tonnes of recovered metal powder were discovered on site. She said the department seized the factory's production equipment under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, as they were being operated without pollution control systems or DOE approval. Investigations are ongoing under Sections 18(1), 34A(6) and 34B(1) of the same Act. Sharifah Zakian said DOE Kedah will continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement efforts, particularly targeting illegal waste processing activities that cause environmental pollution and pose public health risks. She urged the public to report any suspected environmental violations via DOE's toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727 or online at — Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
DoE shuts down illegal waste facility in Bukit Selambau
ALOR STAR: The Department of Environment (DoE) has issued a stop-work order against a factory in the Bukit Selambau industrial area for operating an illegal scheduled waste recovery facility without the required approvals. The enforcement action, carried out yesterday, targeted potential sources of pollution in the Kuala Muda district. Kedah DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the factory was found to be conducting off-site recovery of scheduled waste without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval or a licence from the department. "The raid found around 100 metric tonnes of used lithium batteries, 317 metric tonnes of crushed used batteries classified as scheduled waste, and 20 metric tonnes of recovered metal powder stored on-site," she said in a statement today. She said investigations are being conducted under several provisions of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, including for storing and conducting recovery activities involving scheduled waste without proper authorisation. As part of the enforcement, a stop-work order was issued under Section 38(1)(a) of the Act, and machinery used in the facility's operations was seized. The factory was found to be operating without any pollution control measures. "The DoE will continue to intensify monitoring and enforcement to curb illegal scheduled waste recovery activities that endanger the environment and public health," said Sharifah Zakiah. She also urged the public to report any suspicious or polluting activities to the department.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Penang police seized over RM33 million in drugs between January and July
KEPALA BATAS: Penang police have seized various types of drugs valued at RM33.82 million through a series of operations and raids carried out across the state during the first seven months of this year. Acting state police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said, during the same period, a total of 14,146 individuals were arrested for various drug-related offences. "Of the 14,146 individuals detained under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, 4,498 cases involved drug trafficking and possession. Of these, 4,170 cases, representing 92.71 per cent, have been charged. "In addition, 7,938 investigations were conducted under Section 15(1)(a) of the same act, while 251 individuals were prosecuted under Section 39C(1) between January and July this year," he told newsmen at the police central contingent evidence storage facility here today. He was met at a brief ceremony to dispose of drugs worth about RM2 million, seized by the state police contingent between 2010 and last year. Alwi said more than 120kg of assorted drugs, valued at RM2 million and seized between 2010 and 2024, were disposed of in collaboration with waste management company Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd. He said the destroyed drugs were linked to 5,265 investigation files across five districts in Penang and could have potentially been used by an estimated 1.38 million drug addicts if released into the market. "Among the drugs destroyed today were 19,750gm of heroin and monoacetylmorphine, 53,575.9gm of cannabis, 2,873.9gm of ketamine, 42,614.6gm of methamphetamine and 2,087.1gm of various psychotropic pills." He said the disposal process adhered to stringent procedures and employed environmentally certified technology approved by the Department of Environment to ensure public safety and ecological sustainability. The substances were transported to a secure disposal facility in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan. "All evidence items were thoroughly inspected before being transported under tight police security to guarantee transparency in the disposal process," he said, adding that police were committed to ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse, which he described as the nation's number one enemy.
