By Balkish Awang and Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop
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TASEK GELUGOR (Penang) (Bernama) – For four long decades, residents of Kampung Air Melintas Kecil in Tasek Gelugor here have been grappling with the stench emanating from Sungai Kereh which is polluted by pig manure and waste from farms situated in nearby Kampung Selamat.
One of the residents Abu Hasan Awang,52, lamented that there appeared to be no end in sight to the pollution issue.
“Just imagine from the 1980s up to now, we are still facing the same problem. The local authorities, relevant agencies and our elected representatives have taken turns to come here to take a look at the situation and then they go back. But the pollution is still occurring,” he told Bernama when met at his home at Kampung Air Melintas Kecil.
Abu Hasan feels that something fishy is going on and wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the matter as he has strong reasons to believe that it involves “corrupt elements”.
“The MACC must investigate as the pollution issue has been around for years, with the source (of the pollution) being pig farms and also factories handling chemical materials,” he said, adding that during the dry season the stench from the pig manure and chemical pollutants worsens.
Another resident Hishamudin Md Isa, 42, agreed that MACC should investigate this issue.
“We feel that something or someone is behind this. This issue is always garnering attention… various parties and agencies have come to this area to see the situation but after that, no further action is taken,” he claimed.
DESTRUCTION TO PADI FIELDS
Abu Hasan, who works as a lorry driver, said he used to be a padi farmer but had to give up rice cultivation as the polluted water from Sungai Kereh was destroying his crops.
He said back during the 1970s when Sungai Kereh was in pristine condition, it used to be a haven for giant freshwater prawns which the local community would catch and sell.
“There are no more prawns left in the river now due to the pollution,” he added.
Hishamudin, meanwhile, complained about the losses he suffered after Sungai Kereh became badly polluted and destroyed his padi crop.
“I would be fearful when it came to harvesting time as I’ve previously come across pig faeces in the field. Apart from incurring losses that run into thousands of ringgit, we farmers also have to suffer from itchiness on our legs,” he said.
Hishamudin said he and his fellow villagers are relieved that the Ministry of Environment and Water has set up a special committee to look into and resolve the Sungai Kereh pollution issue as soon as possible.
He said a recent visit by Datuk Dr Nadzri Yahaya, who is the former director-general of the National Solid Waste Management Department, also gave them hope of a solution to their woes.
STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION
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Meanwhile, Penang Health, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin told Bernama she has requested the Irrigation and Drainage Department to lodge a police report under Section 430 of the Penal Code with regard to the pollution of Sungai Kereh.
According to Norlela, the matter is still being investigated by the police who have taken 11 samples of water from the river.
“The MACC is welcome to investigate the matter as well because no one should be allowed to dispose of sewage into drains and rivers that can lead to a spike in the water’s BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels,” she said.
Norlela said MACC should also investigate why Penang’s Pig Farming Enactment 2016 and its regulations were only gazetted in March 2020, that is, four years after they were enacted.
In comparison, the state’s Poultry Farming Enactment was passed during the second meeting of the State Legislative Assembly in 2020 and approved by the State Executive Council at a meeting on Dec 9 and will be gazetted on Jan 1, 2021.
Norlela said the state government, through the Veterinary Services Department, could not take any action against the pig farm operators who were polluting Sungai Kereh due to the delay in gazetting the Pig Farming Enactment.
Although the enactment has now been gazetted, the pig farmers will be given two years to comply with its requirements, failing which their farms will be demolished.
In the meantime, added Norlela, the local authority can take action against errant farm operators by issuing them a maximum compound of RM250.
“Hence, no serious action can be taken as long as the Pig Farming Enactment and its regulations are not fully enforced (the enforcement will come into effect after the two-year grace period in March 2022). This is why the farm operators are paying no heed to the pollution issue,” she said.
WAITING FOR CHEMICAL REPORT
Seberang Perai Utara police district chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor when contacted by Bernama said they are waiting for the chemical report with regard to the Sungai Kereh pollution issue in order to complete the investigation paper for the case.
He said the police are also in the midst of identifying several individuals believed to be behind the contamination of the river.
“The investigation paper is almost complete and we’re just awaiting the chemical report before we submit it to the state prosecution director for further action,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 430 of the Penal Code pertaining to acts of mischief that cause a diminution of the supply of water for agricultural purposes.
Penang Pig Farm Operators Association chairman Wong Soon Ping said a total of 69 licensed pig farms are currently operating in Kampung Selamat.
Asked to comment on the odour and water pollution caused by illegal pig farm operators, he said the state Pig Farming Enactment and its regulations will help to resolve the issue.
“We really hope the matter will be resolved. It will take some time but I believe the river contamination issue will be resolved,” he added.
Translated by Rema Nambiar – BERNAMA