Johor authorities seek Singaporean landowner over illegal dumping, unpaid land tax

Johor authorities are looking for the Singaporean landowner of a 3.4-hectare site in Johor Bahru which was illegally used for dumping activities.

The owner had leased the land designated for agricultural use to a solid waste management operator, said Chairman of the Johor State Housing and Local Government Committee Mohd Jafni bin Md Shukoh in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 11).

A multi-agency enforcement operation at the site detected multiple infringements.

Among them, Jafni highlighted the open burning of construction waste, plastic, rubber and wood as a serious issue, noting that the Kampung Maju Jaya site in Kempas is situated near a Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) underground gas pipeline.

"This is no longer a minor issue or just about cleanliness. It is about public safety, environmental issues and compliance with the law," he said.

On Aug 9, Malaysian media reported that about 10,000 residents from four villages around Kempas told authorities they were affected by air pollution and faced the risk of an underground gas pipeline explosion from the illegal burning of waste at the site.

Other allegations include the dumping of construction waste brought in from Singapore, according to the New Straits Times.

A total of four persons, comprising one Malaysian and three Bangladeshis, were arrested during the enforcement operation on Tuesday. 

Investigators will next determine if the Singaporean landowner was involved in the illegal activities at the site, or had merely acted as a lessee. 

In addition, Johor's land office will also be investigating the Singaporean landowner after checks revealed that land tax had not been paid since 2023.

Meanwhile, the site has been ordered to shut and Petronas has conducted inspections to ensure that the area is safe from any explosion risk.

Jafni, who was present at the enforcement operation, was accompanied by Johor Bahru Mayor Mohd Haffiz Ahmad, Johor Bahru North police chief Assistant Commissioner Radin Ramlan Ramdin Taha and Johor Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWCorp) director Zainal Fitri Ahmad.

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editor@asiaone.com