Authorities in Seremban confiscated an estimated 200 tonnes of electronic waste from an unnumbered factory near Sg Linggi, a crucial raw water source. The ewaste was deceitfully declared as scrap to gain entry into the country and is suspected to have been imported from the United States and China through Port Klang.
The environment and public health were disregarded by the operators, according to initial findings. S. Veerapan, the state climate change, human resources, entrepreneurship, cooperatives and consumerism committee chairman, stated that the entire place was in disarray, prompting concerns of pollution in the water due to improper waste disposal.
Further inquiries will be made to determine whether any waste was disposed of in Sg Linggi, potentially polluting the water. The authorities received a tip-off from the public, leading to a joint raid conducted by several agencies.
The investigation uncovered evidence of an illegal operation, with Chinese nationals overseeing up to 60 foreign workers in dismantling the e-waste. Seven foreign workers from Myanmar were arrested during the raid, while others managed to escape.
Veerapan reported to the press at the site that the manner in which the waste was handled could have detrimental effects on the health of the people and the environment, especially given the proximity of the premises to Sg Linggi, which is less than 100m away.
The operator failed to display any signage indicating the nature of the business being conducted on the premises, and neglected to secure a license from the local council to operate the business.
