Pollution of Sungai Sepetang Allegedly Affects the Livelihoods of Kampung Dew Fishermen
By Zaki Salleh
TAIPING: Residents of Kampung Dew have alleged that pollution in the waters of Sungai Sepetang has adversely affected the livelihoods of local fishermen and impacted the area’s firefly ecotourism sector.
The allegations were raised during a press conference attended by representatives from Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), the Perak Ecological Friends Association (SEP), and myKomuniti Perikanan (myKP).
They urged the Department of Environment (DOE) to take enforcement action against those allegedly responsible for the pollution.
Kampung Dew residents’ representative and Perak Ecological Friends Association representative, Shukor Ishak, said the pollution was detected on 5 July and is suspected to have originated from a palm oil processing mill in Kamunting.
He said residents had made several attempts to meet with the mill’s management to discuss the issue.
“However, those efforts received no response, as the management refused to hold a meeting.
“Furthermore, appeals for compensation for affected residents were also allegedly ignored,” he said.
In addition to enforcement action, they called on the DOE to ensure that the mill’s palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment pond system is properly maintained and functioning effectively.
Such measures, they said, are essential to prevent similar pollution incidents from recurring.
According to Shukor, the water quality of Sungai Sepetang must be safeguarded to ensure the sustainability of fishermen’s livelihoods and the preservation of the environment.
He stressed that the Sungai Sepetang firefly ecotourism area should be protected from any form of pollution.
