24/1/06 SANDAKAN (The Star)  -   All palm oil mills have been warned to stop discharging effluents directly into rivers.

A directive was issued to the mills after Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat made surprise checks at two mills in plantations in Segaliud about 70km from here recently.

He urged plantations and palm oil mills to set up oxidation ponds to channel their effluents and stop discharging them into the rivers.

Chong said that villagers had complained of river pollution problems to him during the visit, adding that the state Environment Conservation Department would study findings of pollution in the rivers and take the necessary action against the culprits under state environment laws.