SHAH ALAM, June 20 - Fifty-five containers of e-waste that entered the country illegally have been repatriated over the past month, said Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Port Klang branch commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal.
He added that this is part of AKPS’ consistent efforts to prevent the entry of e-waste, which could affect national security and the environment.
He explained that of 148 containers identified in the first phase of an operation, 55 were repatriated while the rest are being inspected.
“For the second phase, in addition to the 148, there are 615 more (containers,” he said.
“Charges are being referred to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) because for now, AKPS’ role is very limited, but quite important because if we fail to stop containers from exiting ports, they will reach Malaysia.
“We want to stop them (at the ports) and send them back. That’s the role, even if it is limited, it is important… Our relationship with PDRM is (a good one because) if we get (leaked) information and identify the location, we give it to PDRM,” he told Media Selangor.
Nik Ezanee said his team is serious about halting the entry of e-waste containers, and supports PDRM and the Environment Department’s (DOE) aggressive actions in raiding manufacturing plants, whether or not these factories have permits.
“So far, there has been no increase (in e-waste entry), and from intelligence, we heard that (containers carrying e-waste) bound for Malaysia have been diverted somewhere else, we don’t want to say where.
“What AKPS does is at every entry point, if a container re-enters, we will check it automatically. If it has to do with trade, that’s different; we strike them off the list, (but) if it’s the same (cargo), we reject them,” he said.
Nik Ezanee also said a secretariat, which will be set up to coordinate and implement e-waste management, would facilitate enforcement by relevant agencies.
