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PUTRAJAYA: Efforts to investigate and solve environmental crimes will be boosted with the formation of a task force dedicated to accelerating rapid action against perpetrators who pollute the environment.
The task force will be operational from October, as the government shows its seriousness to act against environmental perpetrators.
At the same time, the police will be given the authority to take immediate action against environmental criminals.
Announcing the creation of the special working group, the Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said that the unit will increase the speed and effectiveness of the action of the relevant authorities against those who commit crimes against the environment. ambient.
“The creation of the task force will help enforce the law against polluters.
“This, together with the amendments to the Environmental Quality Act, will ensure that those who commit crimes against the environment pay dearly,” he said at a press conference to announce the creation of the special working group.
The working group will be made up of the Department of the Environment (DOE), the Water Services Commission (SPAN), the Department of Biosafety and the police.
Tuan Ibrahim said the task force would allow for better and faster implementation with the support and expertise of the authorities involved, particularly in the areas of logistics, forensics and intelligence, as well as law and enforcement.
Tuan Ibrahim said that the police will now have the power to act, using the Environmental Quality Law and the Water Services Industry Law, against violators. Currently, the police have the power to act using the Biosafety Law.
He said the task force is one of many solutions to deal with pollution incidents, which must be addressed comprehensively and proactively.
He pointed to the Sungai Gong incident as an example of how pollution affects environmental sustainability, the economy, and the health and well-being of people.
Globally, crime against the environment is the fourth highest organized crime after drugs, money laundering and human trafficking.
Tuan Ibrahim said the ministry will discuss with the Department of Public Services and the Ministry of Finance about the additional staff and allocation.
He also said that the amendments to the Environmental Quality Law, which will include more severe penalties against environmental offenders, will be presented at the next meeting of Parliament.
“We are looking for higher compounds and fines and for those who caused the contamination to clean up and bear the cost,” he said.
However, Tuan Ibrahim declined to disclose the proposed amount of compound and fines to be issued to polluters.
On the recent Sungai Gong water contamination incident in Rawang, the minister said that investigative documents had been submitted to the Attorney General’s Office.
“Investigative documents from the Department of the Environment and the Water Utilities Commission were sent out last week.”
Tuan Ibrahim said that under Section 43 of the Environmental Quality Act, action could be taken not only at the company that caused the pollution.
“We can also press charges and take action against the company director, CEO, manager and other officials for the crime,” he said.
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