New DOE guideline for mills on effluent discharge

NABAWAN: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Thursday said the Department of Environment (DOE) will formulate a strict guideline for mills to ensure palm oil effluent will not slip into the local waterways. He said this following a site visit to a local mill in Keningau which has been closed by the Department of Environment following reports of effluents entering a local river, here, affecting people in six villages.

"I have instructed the DOE Director-General (Datuk Halimah Hassan) to create the new guideline," he told reporters after holding a dialogue with villagers affected by the pollution said to be released by the said palm oil mill.

The palm oil mill, he said, was closed for three days from Oct 5 to 7.

Towards this end, Wan Junaidi said many improvements have been made by the mill operator since then.

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Reports have been made over effluent found in Sungai Punteh, affecting locals from six villages and also fish in the river.

Earlier, Wan Junaidi said his ministry will not compromise on any environmental violation, warning palm oil mill operators that they hold a great responsibility in protecting the environment.

He also vowed action will be taken against any mill operators who pollute the local rivers, saying rivers are an important part of the people's lives in Borneo, not only for cleaning but also food.

Wan Junaidi revealed that the cost or restoring rivers was far more costlier than preventing it from being polluted.

Meanwhile, the Keningau palm oil mill spokesperson maintained that they have zero effluent and generate their own compost for the plantation.

"We recycle all our empty fruit bunches and turn it into fertilisers," said the spokesperson requesting anonymity.

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He also said claims that fish in the Sungai Punteh, Sungai Sook and Sungai Ansip has died due to pollution from the mill are false after a meeting between agencies at the district office.

"Hence, this claim is baseless," he said of earlier reports of villagers claiming fish were found dead in the river.

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