Ulu kinta: The General Operations Force (GOF) Ulu Kinta seized about 145,000 kilogrammes of plastic waste and machinery worth RM8.5 million in a raid on an unlicensed plastic processing premises in Sungai Siput yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Northern Brigade GOF commander SAC Balveer Singh stated that the noon raid was conducted by the Intelligence Branch of Battalion 3 with the cooperation of the Perak Department of Environment (DOE) and Sungai Siput district police headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Division. This operation was part of Ops Taring Alpha 5.

In a statement today, Balveer Singh mentioned that a local woman in her 40s, believed to be the premises owner, was detained. He explained that an inspection revealed the premises had been operating plastic processing facilities without DOE approval. Large quantities of processed and unprocessed plastic waste, as well as machinery, were seized.

Further investigations showed that the premises had been operating for over three years. It sourced plastic waste from industrial areas in Kulim before processing and sending it to the Klang Valley for resin production.

The case has been handed over to the Perak DOE for investigation under Section 34A(6) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Amendment) 2024. The agency has also ordered an immediate halt to the waste-washing operations under Section 38(1)(a) of the same Act.

Balveer Singh emphasized that stern action would be taken against those operating without approval and urged the public to provide information to assist enforcement efforts.