Sungai Semenyih pollution: Azmin warns DOE

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali today warned the Department of Environment (DOE) to be professional in its investigation into the case of water contamination at Sungai Semenyih.

More than 1 million people in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Petaling and Sepang districts have been facing water supply disruptions since the past few days following the contamination which has resulted in the closure of Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant.

Speaking at his office here today, he expressed regret over the department's delay - about 10 hours late - in getting the water samples which were found to contain odour pollution although it has been informed about the matter earlier.

"I would like to give a stern warning to the DOE to act professionally. The issue is about the safety and interests of the consumers in Selangor.

"We managed to detect the location of pollution (at midnight on Monday) and subsequently informed the DOE, but they only arrived at the scene at 10am.

"On the part of the state government, I will not compromise with the culprit involved in the pollution," he said to reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Bandung Mayor Mochamad Ridwan Kamil.

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Azmin was also concerned about the validity of the samples taken since there was a delay in getting them.

"In terms of law, we cannot use our samples in court. Only the DOE can take the samples as evidence.

"But the question is, if they were taken 10 hours later, I am afraid the evidence is weak and this could hamper court action," he added.

He said he has instructed for an immediate seizure of the factory in Semenyih which has been operating without a licence - the source of odour pollution - and for the district municipal council to seize the land used.

The state government will also appoint river monitoring and enforcement teams to be placed in several locations along Sungai Semenyih as a long term measure to curb pollution.

The Semenyih water treatment plant which was closed for three days recently has been reopened at 10 pm last night and water supply is expected to be fully recovered within 24 hours.