Shut down illegal chicken farms in Johor: Wan Junaidi

PUTRAJAYA: The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has called on the Johor government to take several measures such as shutting down illegal chicken farm operators following the closure of three water treatment plants in the state recently.
Its minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the ministry is greatly concerned about the welfare of the people and takes a very serious view when illegal factories and farms pollute the country's waterways and environment for their own gain.
"The ministry read with great disappointment an article dated Oct 29 about the closure of three water treatment plants in Kulai and Kota Tinggi in Johor due to ammonia pollution.
"This has affected 600,000 people who are currently without safe drinking water.
"The illegal chicken farm producing fertiliser from chicken droppings is polluting Sungai Kalong by allowing the ammonia from the fertiliser to seep into the river.
"This blatant disregard for the lives of the people who live around it is appalling to say the very least," he said in a statement today.
Despite the Department of Environment (DOE) having directed the illegal chicken farm to relocate its operation away from the river in July last year due to water pollution, Wan Junaidi claimed that the operators totally ignored the directive.
"Under Johor state law, chicken farm operators are required to obtain a permit from the Veterinary Science Department beforehand.
"However, the owners of this farm did not bother with this requirement and now we have this problem," he said.
Wan Junaidi said at present while fertiliser farms are yet to be regulated, the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry (MOA) is currently drafting such laws to regulate fertiliser farms.
As such, Wan Junaidi called on the state government through its local council, land and district office and the state Veterinary Services Department to close down the operations of the chicken farm permanently as well as pursue legal action in light of the closure of the water treatment plant.
"Blacklist the operators in order to prevent them from forming other companies which will potentially cause harm to people and the environment.
"Enact laws requiring chicken farms and fertiliser manufacturers to apply for permits and be subject to a set of regulations and penalties in the event of failure to comply," he said.