Saturday, March 04, 2006
The stinking truth!
The Malay Mail
THE public was told by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) that excessive ammonia was the reason for their smelly tap water. And that it was nothing to worry about.
The whole story is now out, and you may be horrified. Discharges from pig and dairy farms, oxidation ponds and palm oil mills caused the ammonia, it was revealed by the Selangor State Government yesterday. This has led to consumer associations, trade unions, residents’ associations and individuals slamming the State Government and Syabas.
The Selangor State Government owned up yesterday that the stink in the water that flowed from taps in the Klang Valley was caused by discharges from pig and dairy farms, oxidation ponds and palm oil mills.
The statement horrified thousands of affected consumers who had been told that the stink, which many said smelled like faeces, was from excessive ammonia content in the water. However, they were not told the source of the ammonia contamination.
Now that it is out of the bag, consumer associations, trade unions, residents’ associations and individuals have slammed the State Government and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) for “sheer incompetence” in safeguarding their health and well-being.