January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
IPOH, June 13 — The Perak Department of Environment (DOE) has confiscated a boiler from a belacan (shrimp paste) processing factory after thousands of dead fish were found floating in drains in Kampung Sungai Payung and Kampung Sungai Tiang Baroh, Bagan Datuk, on June 10.
According to Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim, the factory is suspected of discharging untreated wastewater into nearby drains and rivers.
“Upon inspection, authorities found reddish stains on the floor beneath the boiler used to generate steam for heating and cooking shrimp prior to belacan production,” he said in a statement to Bernama yesterday.
He explained that the boiler was seized for investigation, as it is believed to be the source of the reddish wastewater that flowed into the drainage system, ultimately causing the mass fish deaths.
Earlier, the Perak DOE announced that it had launched an investigation after receiving a public complaint at 12.50pm.
Teh added that the case is being investigated under Section 38(1) of the Environmental Quality Act (Amendment) 2024.
He also noted that low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), ranging from 0.13 to 0.78 milligrams per litre (mg/L)—significantly below the normal level of 6.5 mg/L—could have contributed to the fish deaths.
“The DOE will also rely on the Fisheries Department’s analysis of collected fish samples to determine the exact cause,” he said. — Bernama
