BY OH ING YEEN

Factory operators at the Taman Selesa Jaya industrial area in Balakong are placing their goods, vehicles and rubbish along the roadside, causing inconvenience.

Factory operators at the Taman Selesa Jaya industrial area in Balakong are given two weeks to clear their trash or goods or they will have to face the music.

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng, who visited the site, said he received complaints that some factory operators were placing their goods and sometimes rubbish on the roads while others parked their heavy vehicles by the side.

“It is not just obstruction and an eyesore but a health and safety hazard too.

“If a fire breaks out, the Fire and Rescue Department may not be able to get here in time.

“Under Section 46 (1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, wrongdoers can be fined RM500 and have their goods that are obstructing the road confiscated.

“There is also a RM1,000 fine for indiscriminate dumping,” he said.

According to Taman Selesa Jaya Factory Owners and Business Association chairman Andrew Cheong, there are over 500 factory operators in the area.

He said the indiscriminate dumping problem was getting rampant of late.

“We rarely see the Kajang Municipal Council’s (MPKj) contractors collecting rubbish.

“There are factory owners who get fined for having rubbish bags in front of their factories, but the rubbish bags are for private contractors who come around twice a week,” said Cheong.

Ng explained that council contractors would only collect domestic waste in rubbish bins and the factory operators had to hire private contractors to dispose of industrial waste.

“They have to prepare a 240litre rubbish bin for domestic waste.

“Contractors hired by the council will not collect rubbish dumped by the roadside as that is considered illegal dumping,” he said.

He called on factory owners to not park their forklifts and other heavy vehicles indiscriminately.

“When applying for a road tax from Road Transport Department, they must state where they will park their vehicle but some may have given a fake address.

“They can apply to rent and park their vehicles on council land,” said Ng.

He also reminded owners who built a structure to house their compressors outside the factory must apply for temporary permit from the council and the land office.