'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.