Taiping: The Perak Department of Environment (DOE) has ordered the owner of a palm oil mill to immediately stop the flow of contaminated sludge from a broken retention pond, which has led to the pollution of the Sungai Sepetang near Taiping. State Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim confirmed that the premises was instructed to repair the collapsed pond embankment and submit a report to the DOE.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the detention of operational equipment in the Palm Oil Effluent Treatment System has been implemented to prevent palm oil effluent from entering the sludge disposal pond. An Order Notice under Section 31(1)(g) and Section 37(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 will be issued against the premises for an offence under Section 16 of the same act. Additionally, it is recommended to suspend the Licence for Premises for Crude Palm Oil under Regulation 4 of the Environmental Quality (Licensing) Regulations 1977.

Teh Kok Lim stated that the DOE received information from the factory owner about the reservoir dam collapse on July 5, with investigations suspecting structural weakness as the cause. The premises halted operations immediately upon noticing the collapse and took immediate action to repair the embankment.

The DOE was also informed by the Kommuniti Perikanan (MyKP) Kampng Dew chairman, Shukor Ishak, about dead fish at the Kampung Dew Jetty area in Sungai Sepetang following the spillage from the factory's reservoir. Earlier reports indicated that over 100 fishermen in Kampung Dew, Taiping, claimed their income was affected due to contamination from the palm oil mill effluent spill two weeks prior.

Shukor Ishak reported that the incident caused the river water to turn black, emit a foul odor, and led to the death of over two tonnes of fish. The pollution incident has also adversely impacted the local fishermen's livelihoods, the firefly-based tourism industry, and prawn fishing activities in the area.