Black, polluted river sparks outrage in Sungai Udang village

New Straits Times

3 days ago

MELAKA: For the past week, Sungai Air Batu in Kampung Paya Rumput Jaya, Sungai Udang, has turned black and foul-smelling, believed to be due to leachate discharge from a landfill.
The pollution has persisted since 2023, causing distress to villagers, including smallholders and padi farmers.
Resident Syukur Azzaki Abdul Talib, 47, said numerous complaints had been lodged with the authorities, but the issue remained unresolved.
"This pollution has gone on day after day, month after month, year after year.
"We've reported everything, but it keeps happening due to seepage from the landfill.
"The black water causes a stench in the entire village, not just homes by the riverbank, because the water flows into the main river.
"There used to be fish in the river, but now there's no life in the thick, black water. No one dares go into it," he said during a site visit.
Paya Rumput Hilir Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chairman Mohamad Abdul Rahman said the pollution had affected farmers and padi growers.
"I am dissatisfied with the leachate from the Sungai Udang landfill flowing into Sungai Air Batu and down to the Sungai Lereh estuary.
"It's unacceptable. We've complained for years. Sometimes action is taken, sometimes not, and yet they continue discharging wastewater without informing JPKKs.
"In my area, vegetable farmers are the worst affected.
"They can't water their crops because the water is black and contains chemicals that cause plants to die," he said.
Mohamad, who manages a 12ha padi field, said the contamination was affecting his yield.
"I hope the landfill operator and the state government will monitor the situation and ensure the excess retention ponds can contain the leachate before it enters Sungai Air Batu.
"I also hope Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh will raise this issue at the next executive councillor meeting."
Crop farmer Mohd Razali Zakaria, 44, said he had suffered losses after his crops were damaged by the polluted river water.
"I didn't get any harvest from my corn. The plants were damaged, and the fruit turned rotten after being watered with the black, foamy water.
"I planted 1,000 corn stalks and nearly every plant had problems.
"Even when I sprayed pesticides using the contaminated water, the pests didn't die. Instead, fruit flies started attacking the crops."
He said he had invested around RM10,000 in the farm.