Mandatory Jail For Toxic Waste Offenders? Oh Yes Please!

The government is drafting a new law to make individuals involved in the illegal disposal of toxic waste to be punished with mandatory jail. This is really wonderful news. For too long these greedy murderers of the environment have gotten away scot-free or at most with a slight rap on their knuckles.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said that the Cabinet meeting yesterday made the decision as such illegal activities had an adverse effect on the health of humans and the environment.

"Nobody will escape be they chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies, lorry owners or the lorry drivers," he told reporters here Thursday.

He said that draft of the new law was still being prepared and when ready would be sent to the Attorney-General's office for consideration. "Should there be a need to go before Parliament, it will be presented at the sitting in March or else it will be implemented in January," he added.

In addition, lorries involved in illegal toxic waste disposal will also be seized to stop the companies from continuing with their illegal activities.

Currently, offenders can be fined a maximum RM500,000 and jailed not more than five years.

Azmi added although the jail sentence has been around for sometime, no offender had ever been sent to prison.

"There were 97 such cases between 2001 and 2005 but none involved any jail sentence. As such, the government wants to formulate a new law to put a stop to this damaging activity," he added.

Azmi said this was because the government had to spend RM2 million to rehabilitate areas used as illegal toxic waste dumpsites.

***** Of course it must be mentioned that proper monitoring on the part of the authorities has been criminally lax all this while. That is one reason why the illegal dumping has been going on unhindered so far. Companies too have not really shown any fear for the law or the relevant government departments. Either they have bribed the officers to buy their silence or paying the measly fines is cheaper than instituting proper disposal methods. The fact that lower level staff are sent to attend court for the few cases that do come up, shows their utter disregard and contempt for the law and the authorities. Jail a few CEOs and then we'll see the sudden improvement in toxic waste disposal from these white collar enviro-criminals.
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