Malaysia, Sarawak: Palm oil mills told to toe the line or face the law

ADIB POVERA New Straits Times 3 Sep 16;

MIRI: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has warned palm oil mill operators to toe the line or face the brunt of the law.

The warning was issued following the discovery of dead fishes in Sungai Lamah, Baram near here last week.

“The Department of Environment will not hesitate to take action against those who flout the Environment Quality Act 1974 by causing detrimental effects to the environment.

“The ministry and the department will not compromise on any environmental violation.

“Once again, I would like to remind all palm oil mill operators that they have a big responsibility in protecting the environment,” he said.

On the incident involving the discovery of dead fish, Wan Junaidi said the department is in the midst of investigating the case and that the probe team has taken water samples for analysis at the Bintulu Chemistry Department.

He said outcome of the analysis would be available within two weeks.

“We are looking into whether the incident was due to the effluent discharged by an palm oil mill located about 20km from the spot where the dead fish was found,” he said.

A local daily reported that the discovery was made by a longhouse chief last week.

The longhouse chief had claimed that it was the third such incident at the same river since last year.