THERE are a total of 2,805 illegal factories operating without permit in the Selangor state.
State New Village Development and Illegal Factory Task Force Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah revealed this in reply to a question by assemblyman Yap Ee Wah (BN - Sg Pelek) on illegal factories.
Yong: He says the illegal factories are a liability to local authorities.Ean Yong said these illegal factories were a liability to local authorities as they did not contribute to the revenue collection while their activities also caused pollution.
He said a committee had been formed to tackle and resolve the issue.
“The first step we are taking is to identify and classify these factories according to their categories. Then, we are looking into relocating them to proper locations,” said Ean Yong.
He added that the committee would also look into re-zoning the industrial areas as to ensure that factories could operate legally.
“All these measures undertaken will continue through until 2010. We also want to encourage landowners to change their use of land from agriculture to industry to boost industrialisation since land is scarce these days.
“However, taking into consideration the measures the state government will want to implement, we will not tolerate illegal factories.”
To a question by assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim (Pakatan - Kota Damansara) on the presence of illegal factories that have resulted in shallower rivers and flooding over the past 10 years, Ean Yong said the state acknowledged the matter and is working on resolving it.
Assemblyman Lee Kim Sin (Pakatan - Kajang) also pointed out that the previous state government had said permits would be given in-situ and that many of the factories were located in unsuitable areas.
Ean Yong said the state government would use a different approach this time, like the Sg Buloh furniture factories that would be relocated elsewhere.
“The furniture factories are important in boosting the economy in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the breakdown of existing illegal factories according to areas are Petaling Jaya (1,236), Klang (556), Gombak (37), Hulu Langat (658), Kuala Langat (209), Hulu Selangor (14), Kuala Selangor (35), Sepang (44), and Sabak Bernam (16).
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