JOHOR BARU: Enforcement and surveillance on illegal dumping cases here will be beefed up, says a Johor exco member.

       Illegal dumping has been haunting the state for far too long and it is high time that serious action is taken, said Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

       "Currently, under Section 71 of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672), offenders may face a minimum fine of RM10,000 and a maximum of RM100,000 or a jail term of six months to five years.

       "This year alone, only one case has been prosecuted, with four other cases awaiting trial.

       "Personally, the number is a bit low compared with the reports of illegal dumping we have received," he said.

       He added that some cases have never been solved as the only solution was to clear up the rubbish every time illegal dumping was reported.

       "There is no end to it. To break this cycle, we need frequent surveillance and enforcement with heavier punishment because cases like this should not have been taken lightly at all," he said when met at an illegal dumpsite on Jalan Cenderai 17, Taman Megah Ria here on Sunday (June 5).

       Also present was State Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) director Cairul Hisham Jalaluddin.

       Mohd Jafni said the dumpsite had been active for four years.

       "This place is located near more than 100 industrial premises besides housing areas around Taman Megah Ria and Taman Kota Puteri.

       "The immediate action is to ensure that each industrial premises hires a licensed waste collection contractor to dispose of their waste.

       "For housing areas, SWM Environment Sdn Bhd will add more bins if they come across locations that have overflowing garbage," he said.