BUKIT MERTAJAM: An illegal dumpsite in the middle of a padi field has been discovered in Permatang Pauh here, with bags containing construction and scheduled waste used to "reclaim" the land.

       Penang Environment Department director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the pile consists of 30 jumbo bags containing industrial waste that had been illegally disposed of in the padi field, next to an open burning site.

       "On Feb 15, we received a complaint of open burning at an illegal landfill in the padi field plot behind the Bukit Merah Village housing estate.

       "While checking on the open burning, investigators found the illegal landfill that was filled with solid waste, construction waste and suspected scheduled waste near the location of the open burning.

       "The site measuring about 8,000 sq metres, which was formerly a padi field, was found covered with construction waste.

       "We found that the landowners and tenants had reclaimed the land using waste for the purpose of building construction without any approval from the local authority.

       "After sealing off the area, samples of waste at the landfill were taken and sent to the Chemistry Department of Malaysia (JKM) for analysis," said Sharifah.