*FACTORIES DEFYING CLOSURE ORDERS SUBJECT TO ACTION BY MDHS*
A factory that smelts copper into ingots at Jalan Zurah 1, Perindustrian Zurah, Rasa was closed in an operation carried out by the Hulu Selangor District Council (MDHS) together with the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) on 31 December 2020.
The operation was carried out based on the default of the premises for violating the terms of the council's closure notice dated 27 November 2020, which was to break the mangoes and chains that had been varnished by the council and to perform the melting process on the premises without the approval of the Department of Environment (DOE) and MDHS.
During the investigation in the premises, it was found that the steamer was hot and there were raw materials to be processed. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and representatives of the premises were also called to attend the premises to conduct a brief discussion regarding Section 18 compliance with the DOE and MDHS.
In the discussion, it was found that the premises had not yet obtained Written Permission for Section 18 and had carried out copper smelting activities without full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval from the Selangor DOE. The premises were also found to be operating without a council licence.
The council has issued a Business Premises Closure Notice under Bylaw 43(1)(a) and (b), Trade, Business and Industrial Licensing Bylaws (MDHS) 2007 for a period of 14 days effective 31/12/2020 until 13/1/2021.
A closure notice has been pasted at the main entrance of the premises and the two main doors have been locked while the DOE has pasted a Notice of Detention of Operational Equipment and taken 2 samples at the premises and issued a _Field Citation notice._
In order to ensure that the premises do not operate again, regular monitoring will be carried out and the council will seek cooperation from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Syarikat Air Selangor so that electricity and water supply cuts are implemented immediately on the premises.
