THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has given the land owner of an illegal dumping site in Tanjung Tokong five days to clear the rubbish, failing which legal action would be taken.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, who visited the site which was opposite the Marina Bay Condominium, said fire has occasionally broken out since it first started on April 24.
He said MBPP had lodged a police report on April 26, two days after the Fire and Rescue Department had spent 48 hours to control the fire.
“Today is the last day for the land owner to do something. MBPP has sent backhoes to help firemen to control the fire,” Yew said.
Also present were Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit, MBPP councillors Wong Yuee Harng and Connie Tan, MBPP Engineering Department director A. Rajendran and MBPP Urban Services director Mubarak Junus.
Plenty of rubbish, including several mattresses, carpets, cables and plastic bottles, were strewn on the piece of land belonging to Kwang Tung and Teng Chow Association in Jalan Tanjung Tokong. The site may not be seen by passing motorists or motorcyclists as it is well blocked by rows of trees.
Lee urged the culprit to stop igniting the fire as the smoke could be toxic.
“It was very exhausting for the firemen and MBPP workers to tame the fire. We do not know who is responsibilte but we want to urge the offenders not to start the fire again,” Lee said.
According to Yew, the offender could be fined a maximum RM50,000 or jailed five years or both under a charge from MBPP or could be fined RM500,000 or jailed five years or both under a charge from the Department of Environment.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking official from the association said they would be requesting for extra time in order to convene a meeting since they only received the notice from MBPP on May 1.
“We did send our man to go over and check the fire after receiving a call. But the MBPP notice came only on May 1 and we need time to call for a meeting,” he said.
Story by K.H. Ong