'We've lost our sense of smell': Villagers endure decades of landfill stench

New Straits Times

02-05-2025

KOTA TINGGI: A family of four from Kampung Desa Makmur, near here, claim to have lost their sense of smell due to the prolonged exposure to the stench of rotting rubbish.
Retired soldier Hassan Sani Redzuan, 44, said he and his three children had lost their sense of smell as a result of the overpowering stench, which worsens during the rainy season.
He added that during festive seasons, many guests would only stop by briefly, with some even losing their appetite due to the foul smell and the presence of flies.
"Guests who visit our home all end up 'running away'. During Aidilfitri, we held an open house but instead of the delicious aroma of food, all anyone could smell was garbage.
"Right now, many houses are empty because residents have moved out, unable to bear the stench.
"How long do we have to put up with this? We urge the authorities to immediately shut down this waste disposal site," he said.
Hassan Sani was met during a peaceful protest against the illegal landfill, which was joined by over 50 residents of Kampung Desa Makmur yesterday.
More than 5,000 residents across 10 nearby villages have reportedly had to endure the stench nearly every day for the past 20 years.
"I've lived here for 15 years and the smell has only become stronger. The rubbish heap is now taller than the surau," he added.
Teacher Suhaila Banian, 44, said villagers are also facing safety issues due to the large number of rubbish lorries queuing on both sides of the road.
"When we pass by, we can see rubbish being transported from other districts like Simpang Renggam and Kluang being dumped here.
"This landfill is located beside the main Federal Route from Kota Tinggi to Kluang. In the mornings, we often see rubbish lorries waiting along both sides of the road—it's extremely dangerous and also blocks the entrance into the village," she said.
Meanwhile, Juffri Juraimee, a member of the Village Development and Security Committee for Kampung Semanggar, said they had collected signatures from villagers in protest and a memorandum would be submitted to the Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said villagers were calling for the immediate closure of the landfill, which spans approximately 14 hectares and is located just 300 metres from Kampung Desa Makmur and 200 metres from Kampung Sungai Pelepah.
"This landfill is operating on government land, which, as I understand, has never been officially approved or gazetted as a rubbish disposal site by the Johor State Government.
"What's puzzling is how such a site can be operating when the land has never been given proper approval.
"Even more disheartening is that it's being used to dump rubbish from Kluang and Simpang Renggam, where the volume of waste far exceeds that produced in Kota Tinggi," he said.
While residents in Kluang and Simpang Renggam successfully objected to having a landfill built in their areas, it was the villagers of Kampung Desa Makmur who ended up paying the price.
"Countless complaints have been made but still no action has been taken. Even elected representatives have raised this issue with the relevant authorities, but nothing has been done," he added.