Gangsterism among problems in Selangor's illegal landfill fight

Physical obstacles and provocations from certain parties, including acts of gangsterism by the operators concerned, are among the factors hampering the state goverment in its efforts to eradicate the problem of illegal waste dumping and landfills in Selangor, the state assembly was told today.

State Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the operators also had "tontos" to monitor the whereabouts of the authorities, making it difficult for action to be taken.

He said the provisions under the existing by-laws only cover garbage disposal trucks and do not include the operators of illegal landfills.

"There is no legal provision that can be imposed on the operators of illegal landfills," he said in response to a question from Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof (PH-Dusun Tua) on the obstacles faced by the state government in getting rid of illegal landfills.

He said the sites used as illegal landfills were privately owned land, and the presence of prayer sites in the area also made it difficult for enforcement action to be taken.