Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) urges the Negeri Sembilan state authorities, Department of Environment (DOE) and the National Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation of Negeri Sembilan to investigate and take immediate action to address the problem of pollution from a waste landfill in Bukit Palong, Negeri Sembilan.
Commenting on a report in Sinar Harian dated 18 August 2015, on the issue of air pollution and odour emanating from the Bukit Palong Waste Landfill, SAM expressed hope that the concerned authorities will take initiative to resolve the problem faced by residents in this area.
The problem faced by the residents here is of concern because the waste landfill is likely to contain a variety of hazardous materials and hence the risks incurred by the local population are very worrying.
SAM believes that if the situation is allowed to persist, the impacts to the residents will worsen and the quality of the environment will also be adversely affected. The health of the residents who have suffered from pollution and stench from the landfill for the past 10 years is of utmost concern and thus needs to be assessed.
SAM hopes that the state government pays more attention to the said pollution problem and takes appropriate action. The promise made by the Director of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Negeri Sembilan that the Bukit Palong landfill will close its operations in the near future should be fulfilled.
Measures to rehabilitate the area must be taken immediately in consideration of public health, the environment and the welfare of the local residents.
S.M.MOHAMED IDRIS
President