The Kedah Department of Environment (JAS) has suspended the operation of a boiler at a plywood factory in the Bukit Selambau Industrial Area after the equipment was found to be operating without an air pollution control system.
JAS Kedah director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the Enforcement Equipment Operation Suspension (POK) action was taken following public complaints regarding air pollution affecting residents in the Bukit Selambau area.
She said the department conducted night monitoring and investigations at the location after receiving the complaints to identify the source of the pollution.
“Based on the monitoring and investigation, the air pollution was traced to a factory involved in plywood production activities,” she said in a statement.
Further inspection found that the factory’s boiler was operating without any air pollution control equipment, which could potentially result in smoke and pollutant emissions being released into the atmosphere.
Following the findings, JAS issued a POK order on the boiler under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to prevent further pollution.
Sharifah Zakiah said the enforcement action was among measures taken by JAS to stop the operation of equipment identified as a pollution source until corrective measures are carried out.
The factory has been instructed to immediately cease boiler operations and implement improvements, including installing a suitable air pollution control system, before any application to resume operations can be considered by JAS.
