Environment Ministry foils bid to illegally import used lead acid batteries from Australia

PETALING JAYA: The Environment and Water Ministry says it has successfully foiled an attempt to illegally import five containers of used lead acid batteries via Port Klang on March 30 following information shared by the Australian government.

The Ministry said the used lead acid batteries is classified as a hazardous waste under the Basel Convention and has been categorised as a scheduled waste under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005.

"Investigations on the consignee found that the address listed in the delivery record was fake.

"The delivery of the container was made without the approval of the Department of Environment (DOE) that acts as the authoritative figure under the Basel Convention for Malaysia.

“It has been classified as an illegal import under Article 9 of the Basel Convention, ” the Ministry said in a statement Friday (April 3).

It added that DOE issued a notice under Section 31(1) and Section 37(1) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to the shipping company to send the container back to Australia, the country of origin.

"The success of this operation of illegally bringing in hazardous waste to the country was a result of bilateral cooperation between the Malaysian and the Australian government to eliminate cross-border hazardous waste.

"The Ministry thanks the Australian government for the information that was sent through the Australian embassy in Malaysia.

"The seizure of the containers was done together with the Royal Malaysian Customs, Port Klang Authority and Westport Sdn Bhd," it said.