Kuala Lampur, Aug. 11 -- JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 11 - The Johor government has ordered an illegal scrap metal recycling premise in Kampung Maju Jaya, Kempas, here, to shut down immediately following claims of air pollution.

The premise is also located near an underground gas pipeline owned by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), raising safety concerns for more than 10,000 residents in four nearby villages.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the closure order followed an investigation which found that the premise, which had been operating for more than five years, was involved in open burning activities.

He said an inspection found that the 3.4-hectare site was being used for activities not in ...