SEREMBAN: State authorities seized 200 tonnes of electronic waste from an illegally operated factory at an unnumbered premises on Jalan Kuala Sawah, Kampung Puchong, near here, yesterday.
State Committee on Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Climate Change, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs chairman, S Veerapan, said that a number of Chinese nationals are believed to have been running operations at the factory since 2020.
"Based on preliminary investigations, the factory owner is suspected to be a local before renting it to foreigners for a fee of RM38,000 per month.
"The estimated weight of the waste is 200 tonnes, located nearly 100 metres from Sungai Linggi. The waste materials are believed to have been imported into the country from the United States and China through Port Klang, which was declared incorrectly.
"A group of Chinese nationals are believed to be behind operations here, while the workers consist of Myanmar nationals," he said here today.
Veerapan, who is also Repah assemblyman, said the investigation found nine offences committed under the jurisdiction of seven enforcement agencies.
Veerapan said they include violations of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (AKAS 1974), namely the operation of electronic waste disposal without a licence.
He said the premises were also found to lack worker accommodation certificates and valid travel documents for foreign workers.
"Further investigation is still being conducted on the premises because the activities involved could have a negative impact on the environment and the health of local residents," he said, adding that the raid was the result of shared information and public cooperation.
He said the agencies involved in the raid include the police, Department of Environment (DoE), Inland Revenue Board, Malaysian Immigration Department, Department of Labour, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and the Seremban City Council.
