
Yet another incident of pollutants dumped into our waterways has hit the news. Are we surprised anymore?
This time around, it was a pink-coloured discharge that was traced through the Beranang and Semenyih rivers to a factory in the Beranang industrial area.
What this incident shows is that such illicit practices of dumping of dangerous chemicals or unsafe waste into drains, rivers and hidden locations in forests and undergrowth are proving to be habits that are hard to break. So too the discharge of noxious smoke and fumes into the air at night or during heavy downpours.
In this case, as in many other instances, the errant factory was instructed to halt its discharge operations immediately.
Clearly, there are two implications arising from this incident.
First, the law is not biting hard enough to instil fear of great financial losses as a deterrent to these law breakers.
Second, mere “stop work orders” and orders for the recalcitrant industrialists to clean up are just a farce. Clearly, this is not hurting the polluters enough.
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Either the government takes total responsibility for the slow destruction of our environment or face the possibility of a civil action with the support of a pro bono legal fraternity.
Of course, we could all close an eye and allow these destructive, irresponsible law breakers to thrive.
But then, we cannot condone these treasonous acts because they have long-term, far-reaching harmful consequences.
Will our MPs demonstrate any will to guarantee a cleaner, safer environment in the country? Can we hope to have new laws that more effectively protect our ecosystems?
It is a sign of misplaced priorities when politicians seem more concerned with imaginary insults to their ego over religious matters than they do over pressing health risks posed by toxic pollutants and other threats.
Is this how we are to build a sustainable and progressive nation?
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme