10/1/07 (The Star)  -  THE New Year has brought good news for 750 villagers who have been complaining against a polluting oil palm mill near Kuala Ketil for over a year.

The villagers of Kampung Kok Seng and Kampung Kuala Bakong claimed that the mill was discharging effluents into Sungai Bakong.

This, they claimed, had resulted in them suffering from health pro-blems such as asthma attacks and skin irritations.

Kulim Department of Environ-ment (DOE) head Mohd Helmi Ahmad said samples taken from the river showed that it was contami-nated with traces of oil.

He said the mill owner would be charged in court under Section 16 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for non-compliance of licensing conditions.

The offence carries a fine up to RM25,000 or jail up to two years or both.

Villager M. Ramasamy, 32, said the mill, which began operations two years ago, would release effluents into the river every three or four days.

“The effluents emit strong stench and vapour which trigger breathing difficulties and skin rashes,” he said.

Kampung Kuala Bakong village development and security commit-tee chairman Noorazmi Mansor said he had complained to the DOE four times over the matter.

“I received a reply from the de-partment that the mill was expe-riencing a leakage in its effluent system.

“How can the leak occur once in every three or four days?” he asked.

Villagers also complained the polluted river had caused the death of fish and several head of cattle that drank the contaminated water. 

The management of the oil palm mill declined to comment when contacted.