'Firms could face pollution charges'

'Firms could face pollution charges'

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Pollution charges are likely to be filed against a multi-national air-conditioner company and a local chemical firm for allegedly dumping dirty lubricants and toxic waste in Malaysian waters, a newspaper yesterday said, quoting officials.

Carrier International and Scientific Chemtax could face at least four charges each for the indiscriminate dumping two months ago. The charges carry minimum fines of 10,000 ringgit (US$12,000) or imprisonment of up to three years, the New Straits Times reported.

Carrier was linked in mid-March to the dumping of 28 drums of hydraulic oil, used to lubricate air-conditioner compressors, in waters around Malaysia's northern Penang state.

Chemtax was accused in the same month of disposing 41 drums of potassium cyanide, which scientists said was enough to kill seven million people, on the Pangkor island beach off northern Perak state.