Kuala Lumpur: The Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) has raided eight factories around here and Sungai Petani during an operation codenamed Op Gempur yesterday. Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab stated that the raids targeted electrical and electronic factories, alongside rubber and metal-based factories.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, eight field orders, nine instruction notices, and seven compounds were issued to the factories for violations of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, particularly concerning the management of scheduled wastes. Notice Orders under Sections 31 and 37 were issued to the premises for improvements in areas such as scheduled waste storage, cleanliness, labelling, and inventory updates.

Sharifah Zakiah emphasized the importance of consistent compliance with legal requirements by industries, highlighting the DOE’s commitment to enforcing the Environmental Quality Act 1974. She encouraged the public to report environmental pollution activities via the toll-free line, email, or the JAS e-complaint portal, urging for quality information including location details, evidence, and involved parties.

The director provided contact options for the public to report pollution activities, stressing the need for detailed and precise information to aid in effective enforcement actions.