AKPS Blocks Illegal e-Waste Shipment At Port Klang

SHAH ALAM, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) prevented the entry of 201.3 tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) and scheduled waste following inspections of nine containers at West Port in Port Klang here this morning.

Port Klang AKPS Commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said the containers, which originated from a Western European country, were found to have been improperly declared for entry into Malaysia, with all carrying goods prohibited under the Environmental Quality Act.

“Today’s inspection was conducted together with the Malaysian Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SIRIM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Port Klang Authority and the Selangor Department of Environment.

“The importation of scheduled waste is strictly prohibited under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, and these e-waste containers will be placed in a secure area while awaiting instructions from the central and Selangor Department of Environment for re-export,” he said in a statement today.

Nik Ezanee said five of the containers were filled with used electronic waste such as central processing units (CPUs), printers and photocopy machines, weighing more than 98 tonnes.

He said the remaining four containers contained mixed electronic waste and scheduled waste, including crushed automotive regulators and scrap metal, weighing more than 103 tonnes.

“AKPS will continue inspecting containers suspected of carrying prohibited waste. The agency will also strengthen control and enforcement at the country’s entry points to ensure border sovereignty and national interests are safeguarded,” he said.

-- BERNAMA