Source: Star Newspapers
ALOR SETAR – A rubber glove factory in Kedah has been slapped with a stop-work order by the Department of Environment (DOE) for releasing untreated industrial waste into public drains.
The issue came to light on Thursday evening when DOE inspectors observed blue-colored effluents flowing through the drainage system in the Mergong area.
“Our team traced the source to a factory that was discharging the blue-colored effluent directly into the drains, contaminating a 70-meter stretch,” said Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab, the Kedah DOE director.
Samples were collected for analysis, which confirmed the effluent originated from the factory’s use of blue pigments in the manufacturing process. Crucially, these pigments were being released without proper treatment.
“As a result of this environmental violation, the factory has been issued a stop-work order,” Sharifah Zakiah added. The department will conduct follow-up inspections to ensure the factory implements effective corrective measures before it can resume operations.
Sharifah Zakiah also reminded the public that they can report environmental complaints to the DOE’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727 or by visiting the department’s online portal at http://eaduan.gov.my.