Latest news with #SWCorp
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Johor oil store fire: Nine out of 10 affected premises lacked valid licences, says JB City Council
JOHOR BARU, June 22 — The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has identified 10 premises operated by different companies within the site of a fire at a lorry and engine oil storage facility in Jalan Cenderai, Taman Kota Puteri, Masai, covering an estimated area of 64,664 square metres. Johor Baru Mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said investigations found that only one of the premises, a palm oil storage facility, had been licensed by the council and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). He said the remaining businesses, including a car wash, vehicle parking, a used items dealer, and workshops, were found to be operating without valid licences, and the council would take further action against those involved. 'The land was leased to these premises, but we found only the palm oil storage facility to be licensed. Therefore, MBJB will take further action, including requesting the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) to act, especially since one of the tenants deals in scrap materials,' he told reporters after visiting the scene today. Earlier, Bernama's check at the scene found that the road leading to the fire site had been cordoned off by authorities. Members of the public were seen gathering in the area since early this morning to view the aftermath of the blaze. The Fire and Rescue Department's Operations Centre (JBPM) received an emergency call about the incident at 12.54 pm yesterday, and 34 personnel with assets from multiple fire stations, including auxiliary units, were deployed to the location. Five premises were affected in the fire, which destroyed an area of about 1,000 square metres and 15 vehicles. — Bernama
The Star
7 days ago
- General
- The Star
Safety fears over dirty, unlit Jln Tun Razak walkway
A pedestrian on a stretch of the walkway along Jalan Tun Razak that is partially blocked from motorists' view by an elevated slip road next to it. A DIRTY and unlit walkway along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, is sparking safety concerns among regular users. Elena Mei Yun said a portion of the walkway was not visible to motorists on Jalan Tun Razak as it was blocked by an elevated slip road connected to the Kampung Pandan roundabout. 'The dirty condition and lack of lights at that stretch makes it dark, creepy and prone to unsavoury elements,' she said. Mei, who takes the path to work, added: 'I usually use that stretch of walkway before 7am. 'It is still quite dark then, so I am fearful of getting robbed.' During a recent visit, StarMetro observed that the walkway was littered with leaves, while the stretch blocked from view by the elevated slip road was also quite narrow. Mei said she lodged a complaint with Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) on June 4, requesting the agency clean the walkway. 'Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, the concession company under SWCorp which is responsible for public cleansing work in Kuala Lumpur, then called me to explain that cleaning work for the walkway was not under Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) jurisdiction as the highway concessionaire had not surrendered that portion to DBKL,' she said. In a separate email response to Mei, SWCorp reiterated that as the cleaning job for the walkway had not been handed over, the agency was not authorised to work on the area. Mei added that she had also lodged a complaint with DBKL about the problem, but was told the same thing – that the highway concessionaire had not surrendered the walkway to them. 'The walkway needs to be cleaned up regularly and made more pedestrian-friendly. 'Street lights should also be installed for pedestrian safety,' she said. Meanwhile, Bike Commute Malaysia director Justin Lee said the walkway was open and clean in 2018 when the elevated slip road was still under construction, citing images captured by Google Maps at the time. 'Like many flyovers that have been introduced recently, pedestrian space is not considered. 'In this case, pedestrian safety and accessibility are compromised when the walkway is squeezed beside the flyover, which should not have been built alongside walkways,' he said. Lee called for a guideline to clearly outline the minimum requirements for pedestrian walkways so future projects do not compromise such infrastructure. StarMetro reached out to DBKL and SWCorp for comments, but neither provided a response at press time.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sharp rise in recyclables collected by Johor folk
Johor Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is intensifying efforts to raise recycling rates across the state, to ensure the national target of 40% is achieved this year. Its deputy director Rafidah Mohamed said paper, bottles and electronic waste remained the top three collected recyclable materials in Johor based on its data. A volunteer weighing rubbish collected from a clean-up programme at Gunung Pulai. 'Johor's recycling volume saw a sharp increase last year, with 2.41 million kilogrammes of recyclables collected compared to 1.38 million kilogrammes in 2023. 'This surge is largely attributed to the impact of the separation-at-source initiative that encouraged households to sort waste before disposal,' she told StarMetro. However, Rafidah said Johor still faced major hurdles in public participation. 'The diverse cultural backgrounds, habits and socio-economic conditions among communities present real challenges for recycling. 'Many Malaysians still dispose of waste without sorting. Changing this habit requires persistent education and outreach.' She noted that in high-density housing areas, limited space posed a problem for families trying to store recyclables before collection day. Waste collected by volunteers during a beach clean-up programme in Mersing. According to Rafidah, access to recycling collection points remained limited in some neighbourhoods, which discouraged public participation. 'To combat these challenges, SWCorp has launched communication, education and public awareness campaigns statewide. 'These include school visits, public talks and awareness programmes held at community centres.' She said the company also had volunteers known as 'Hero Kebersihan' (Cleanliness Heroes) who would be mobilised to conduct clean-up activities and Rafidah says paper, bottles and e-waste remain the top three recyclable materials in Johor. educate local communities. The plastic waste collected from these clean-up activities were then separated and sent for recycling, she added. Rafidah said SWCorp had also partnered with industries and local authorities to reinforce circular economy principles, through programmes such as 'Trash to Cash.' She said this initiative rewarded households that separated recyclables with cash incentives or point-based rewards. 'To make waste separation a long-term habit, SWCorp introduced 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) education modules in schools and community programmes. 'Continuous engagement is key for us to have a society that always practises 3R day to day.' Rafidah said while SWCorp did not handle the recycling technology itself, it worked with industry players to ensure materials were processed responsibly. She cited its close working relationship with Hiroyuki Industries, a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic processor, as an example of successful post-collection recycling. She said collected PET bottles from campaigns were sent to Hiroyuki's plant in Senai, Johor, for processing. Rafidah said bottles at the plant went through a cleaning and melting process before being converted into recycled PET resin. The resin was then used to produce a range of new plastic products, including food packaging and bottles, she elaborated. However, despite these efforts, she said Malaysia's PET recycling rate remained low with only 16% of bottles recovered and recycled. 'But Johor has seen pockets of success in waste separation, thanks to strong grassroots leadership and community spirit,' said Rafidah. She said among the examples were Masjid Bandar Putra IOI in Segamat, where structured collection systems had driven consistent recycling practices. She noted that the mosque provided dedicated collection cages for recyclables and encouraged residents to drop off materials regularly. She thanked the mosque committee for keeping the programme active and effective. 'This shows that proactive leadership, infrastructure and resident participation can produce long-term results.' In terms of enforcement, Rafidah said waste separation at source had been mandatory since 2015 in Johor, Melaka, Pahang and the Federal Territories. She said offenders could be fined up to RM1,000 under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672). 'Still, education remains SWCorp's main approach to create better awareness among the public, with fines only issued after repeated non-compliance. 'SWCorp is also ramping up our partnerships with schools, local authorities and non-governmental organisations to expand recycling programmes across the state,' she elaborated. Rafidah said one flagship programme was the school recycling competition, which taught students through hands-on projects. 'We are also collaborating closely with local councils to operate drive-through recycling centres, enabling residents to drop off recyclables conveniently,' she said, adding that there were currently 86 such centres operating in seven states under Act 672, including Johor. 'Looking ahead, SWCorp's long-term strategy includes achieving the 40% national recycling target under the 12th Malaysia Plan. 'Plans include expanding the recycling bank programme in schools, kindergartens and public offices throughout Johor.' Rafidah said it also intended to scale up its zero waste community initiative, particularly in low-income housing projects. 'We aim to embed recycling into everyday life, from home to school and the office. 'Efforts will be further supported by ongoing education and media campaigns for better understanding of environmental sustainability,' she added. Rafidah said that through such efforts, the objective was not just about reducing landfill waste but also creating a culture of responsibility and care for future generations.
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
SWCorp Ensures Top-Tier Waste Management Services During LIMA'25
LANGKAWI, May 20 (Bernama) -- The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) will keep its services at peak performance throughout the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA'25). Chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said 380 cleaners, supervised by 19 enforcement officers, will be on island-wide, supported by the latest cleaning technology. 'High-tech machines, such as Glutton vacuum units and road sweepers, have been deployed at public hotspots and along major routes for more intensive street cleaning. 'We have assigned 80 staff to a litter-picking initiative targeting road shoulders on key thoroughfares,' he told reporters at Kuah Jetty Terminal today. The agency is also stepping up enforcement to shut down illegal waste hotspots and a speak-up campaign that encourages the public to call out littering. 'SWCorp has launched public awareness campaigns through video screenings at high-traffic locations to highlight the importance of proper solid waste management,' he said. He added that user-friendly, informative bins have been placed in key areas to shift the public mindset toward the importance of waste separation. 'This initiative is showing promising results. During inspections, our personnel found that some waste had already been sorted, which makes the cleaning process much easier,' he said. Meanwhile, SWCorp is also showcasing several sculptures made by locals from recycled materials in the waiting area at the Kuah Jetty Terminal.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
SWCORP ensures top-tier waste management services during LIMA'25
LANGKAWI: The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) will keep its services at peak performance throughout the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA'25). Chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said 380 cleaners, supervised by 19 enforcement officers, will be on island-wide, supported by the latest cleaning technology. 'High-tech machines, such as Glutton vacuum units and road sweepers, have been deployed at public hotspots and along major routes for more intensive street cleaning. 'We have assigned 80 staff to a litter-picking initiative targeting road shoulders on key thoroughfares,' he told reporters at Kuah Jetty Terminal today. The agency is also stepping up enforcement to shut down illegal waste hotspots and a speak-up campaign that encourages the public to call out littering. 'SWCorp has launched public awareness campaigns through video screenings at high-traffic locations to highlight the importance of proper solid waste management,' he said. He added that user-friendly, informative bins have been placed in key areas to shift the public mindset toward the importance of waste separation. 'This initiative is showing promising results. During inspections, our personnel found that some waste had already been sorted, which makes the cleaning process much easier,' he said. Meanwhile, SWCorp is also showcasing several sculptures made by locals from recycled materials in the waiting area at the Kuah Jetty Terminal. 'We've also displayed sculptures crafted from waste materials at the airport, and aim to expand this initiative further in the future,' he added.
