PETALING JAYA, Oct 5 — Located along Jalan Sungai Lalang, about two kilometres from the Semenyih Hi-Tech Industrial Park, is the root of the people’s water misery for the last two weeks — an illegal factory. 

A little more than a roof on beams, the factory has been collecting used engine oil and oil filters, which are recycled and then repackaged to be sold again to unsuspecting vehicle owners. 

A Department of Environment (DoE) officer told Malay Mail the factory could have been operating for about two years and speculated the operator had recently become lax with their housekeeping, allowing their run-off to flow into the river flowing in their backyard. 

"The run-off is a mix of industrial solvent which is used to remove grease or oil and the sludge itself,” the officer said, as he pointed to a foul-smelling patch of dark earth leading to the river. 

In all corners of the factory were oil drums and intermediate bulk containers enclosed in metal cages. They were full of either used or recycled oil. The capacity of the bulk containers are between 1,000 litres to 1,250 litres.

The factory was raided at about 8am yesterday by Selangor Water Management Board (Luas), Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd and Kajang Municipal Council. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali also arrived at the scene during the raid. 

It was conducted after 10 days of round-the-clock surveillance. Luas acting director Nor Zamri Sondor said at 11pm on Monday, they detected an odour from one of their observation posts and at 2am, they confirmed the source. 

When Zamri and the other officers forced their way in, the factory was deserted but they found a living quarters for workers, leading the enforcers to believe the workers there could have been illegals. 

DoE officers arrived about 20 minutes later and assessed the situation in the compound. The last time contaminants from the factory had forced the Semenyih water treatment plant — about 30km downstream from the factory — to shut down on Sept 22. 

Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said, in a statement after the raid, that the factory besides SR Building Materials Sdn Bhd had been sealed by the authorities.

She said the case had been referred to the DoE and it would be investigated under Section 25 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 and/or five years’ jail.

"No appeal will be entertained for this act which affected 1.8 million consumers in Selangor,” Wong said.

Zamri said they had seized several assets, including two cars, a lorry and a forklift. 

"The lockdown would be enforced until the site has been cleared of all the drums and containers,” he said.

"We are convinced no further pollution will occur from this site and we will monitor the situation.’’

As to whether the run-off from the factory was toxic, a DoE officer said further tests would have to be conducted. 

Syabas had initially suspected the source of the contamination at the water treatment plant was in the Semenyih Hi-Tech Industrial Park, while Wong had said the state government had not ruled out the possibility of sabotage.