SUNGAI PETANI: The Sessions Court today fined Taiwanese-owned Grey Matter Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd RM75,000 for operating without approval from the director-general of Environmental Quality.
Judge Azman Abu Hassan imposed the fine after Grey Matter Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd, through its representative, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The charge stated that the company, based in Taman Ria Jaya, had carried out a prescribed activity, specifically Activity 14(b)(ii) of the First Schedule to the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015, by constructing a solid waste recycling plant for plastic waste without first obtaining approval from the director-general of Environmental Quality.
The company committed the offence between 10.40am and 2.30pm on July 3 at its premises at Plot 11, Jalan PKNK 1/6, Kawasan Perindustrian LPK, in Taman Ria Jaya here.
The charge was framed under Section 34A(6) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) and carries a penalty under Section 34A(8) of the same Act.
The charge carries a fine up to RM500,000 and five years' imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
Prosecution officers from the Department of Environment (DoE), Muniff Mat Rus and Ahmad Mustaqim Mohd prosecuted while the company was not represented by a lawyer.
Muniff proposed the court fine the company between RM50,000 and RM100,000 as a lesson.
In mitigation, the company representative pleaded for a lower fine as the company, owned by a Taiwanese national, had several times submitted an appeal to the DoE to obtain EIA approval but was turned down.
The company representative told the court that the company has since decided to shift its business from recycling plastic waste to manufacturing plastic film, which does not require EIA approval.
Azman then fined the company RM75,000 and its representative subsequently paid the amount.
It was reported that on July 3, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, had led a raid on two illegal factories processing e-waste and plastics in Sungai Petani.
It was reported that during the Op Patuh raid, the ministry had seized 1,500 metric tonnes of e-waste, 100 metric tonnes of used jumbo bags and 100 metric tonnes of recycled materials.