Latest news with #EnvironmentalQualityAct1974
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Moderate air quality in most areas, no unhealthy readings
ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 66 out of 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate air quality levels this morning Environment Department director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said readings as of 9 am this morning also showed two more stations recording good air quality readings. 'This means that no station recorded unhealthy air status,' he said when commenting on the air quality following the haze. He said this at a press conference after the 14th emergency simulation exercise to deal with chemical spills by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link Expressway (Linkedua), here today. According to him, several hot spots were also detected in Sabah, Sarawak, and Pahang, and DOE would continue to monitor. He added that action would be taken against individuals who engage in open burning under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Wan Abdul Latiff was previously quoted as saying that DOE has increased intensive patrols and physical monitoring in flammable areas, especially agricultural land, peatlands, bushland, abandoned plantations and waste disposal sites that have been identified as high-risk. According to him, patrol activities and enforcement operations to prevent open burning which contributes to haze, especially in the current hot and dry weather conditions, will be stepped up. - Bernama
Barnama
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Barnama
Moderate Air Quality In Most Areas, No Unhealthy Reading Recorded
ISKANDAR PUTERI, July 23 (Bernama) -- A total of 66 out of 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate air quality levels this morning Environment Department director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said readings as of 9 am this morning also showed two more stations recording good air quality readings. 'This means that no station recorded unhealthy air status," he said when commenting on the air quality following the haze. He said this at a press conference after the 14th emergency simulation exercise to deal with chemical spills by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link Expressway (Linkedua), here today. According to him, several hot spots were also detected in Sabah, Sarawak, and Pahang, and DOE would continue to monitor. He added that action would be taken against individuals who engage in open burning under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Wan Abdul Latiff was previously quoted as saying that DOE has increased intensive patrols and physical monitoring in flammable areas, especially agricultural land, peatlands, bushland, abandoned plantations and waste disposal sites that have been identified as high-risk. According to him, patrol activities and enforcement operations to prevent open burning which contributes to haze, especially in the current hot and dry weather conditions, will be stepped up. -- BERNAMA
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
GOF seizes e-waste worth over RM31mil in Parit
pic courtesy General Operations Force via BERNAMA IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) has seized electronic waste (e-waste) worth RM31.3mil in a raid on an illegal factory within an oil palm plantation in Parit. Ulu Kinta GOF Northern Brigade Commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim said the items seized on Tuesday (July 22) included 81 blocks of e-waste weighing 105.3 tonnes, five tonnes of coal, two four-wheel-drive vehicles and a trailer lorry. "The investigation found that the illegal factory, about 5km from the main road, is believed to have been carrying out unlicensed e-waste processing activities using specialised equipment without any approval from the authorities. "The raid, conducted in collaboration with the Perak Environment Department (DOE), Perak Tengah District Council and Perak Tengah District and Land Office, also led to the arrest of three local men, aged between 36 and 70, to assist with the investigation,' he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 23). SAC Shahrum said the case is being investigated under Sections 18, 19, and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Section 6 of the Second-hand Dealers Act 1946, as well as Section 127 of the National Land Code. He added that enforcement efforts would be intensified, with no compromise given to any party involved in illegal activities. "The public is urged to serve as the eyes and ears of the authorities by channelling information on such illegal activities,' he said. – Bernama
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
GOF seizes RM31m e-waste in Perak illegal factory raid
IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) seized electronic waste (e-waste) worth RM31.3 million during a raid on an illegal factory located within an oil palm plantation in Parit yesterday. Ulu Kinta GOF Northern Brigade Commander SAC Shahrum Hashim said the seized items included 81 blocks of e-waste weighing 105,300 kilogrammes (kg), 5,000 kg of coal, two four-wheel-drive vehicles and a trailer lorry. 'The investigation discovered that the illegal factory, located about five kilometres from the main road, is believed to have been carrying out unlicensed e-waste processing activities using specialised equipment without any approval from the authorities. 'The raid, conducted in collaboration with the Perak Department of Environment (DOE), the Perak Tengah District Council (MDPT), and the Perak Tengah District and Land Office, also led to the arrest of three local men, aged between 36 and 70, to assist with the investigation,' he said in a statement today. Shahrum said the case is being investigated under Sections 18, 19, and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Section 6 of the Second-hand Dealers Act 1946, as well as Section 127 of the National Land Code. He added that enforcement efforts will be intensified, with no compromise given to any party involved in illegal activities, especially in Perak. 'The public is urged to serve as the eyes and ears of the authorities by channeling information on such illegal activities,' he said. - Bernama
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
DOE intensifies patrols to curb open burning amid haze risks
KUALA LUMPUR: As a proactive preventive measure, the Department of Environment (DOE) has intensified ground patrols and physical monitoring in fire-prone areas, particularly agricultural lands, peatlands, bush areas, abandoned plantations, and landfills identified as high-risk. DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the department had been conducting patrols and enforcement operations to prevent open burning, which contributes to the haze, especially in the current hot and dry weather. 'Since July 8, 2025, the delegation of authority to various enforcement agencies has come into effect. This strategic initiative is aimed at strengthening enforcement actions on the ground, particularly in addressing the issue of open burning, which contributes to haze situations. 'This delegation of authority allows swift, integrated and more comprehensive actions to be implemented quickly by the relevant agencies,' he said in a statement today. He said that as of July 21, 2025, the DOE had conducted 4,121 ground patrols and 640 drone surveillance operations. In terms of enforcement action, the DOE had issued 58 directives, initiated 27 court actions and imposed 59 compounds on parties found to have committed open burning offences throughout 2025. Wan Abdul Latiff said that for better preparedness and coordination, the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan had also been activated since Feb 26 to coordinate government agency responses in addressing open burning and managing haze situations in the country. 'In addition, joint patrols and monitoring efforts are also being conducted with strategic partner agencies such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (MCDF) and other enforcement agencies at the state and district levels,' he said. He also urged the public not to carry out any form of open burning, particularly for agricultural purposes such as land clearing, disposal of agricultural waste or abandoned land. 'Stern action will be taken against individuals or parties found to be in violation of Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Offenders convicted of open burning can be fined up to RM1 million or imprisoned for up to five years, or both. 'In addition, a compound of up to 50 per cent of the maximum fine may be imposed for each offence,' he said. 'At the same time, all operators of industries such as quarries, palm oil mills, premix plants and other industrial sectors are required to ensure that their air pollution control systems are functioning properly. Emissions from chimneys must be constantly monitored and controlled to prevent air pollution that could affect public health,' he said. He added that the DOE remained committed to enhancing monitoring and enforcement as well as collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure that the country's air quality remained under control. 'Members of the public who witness or suspect open burning incidents can channel information to the DOE via the toll-free hotline 1-800-88-2727, e-mail aduan@ or through the official MyJAS EQMS mobile app,' he said.
