KLUANG, Sept. 17 -- A palm oil mill in Kluang has been identified as the source of pollution in Sungai Sembrong and ordered to halt operations immediately.

The directive was issued by the Kluang branch of the Department of Environment (DoE) following an investigation and inspection of the facility after pollution in the river was first detected on Monday.

"Further investigation revealed a pump malfunction at the mill's effluent treatment pond, causing an overflow of oil-contaminated effluent into Sungai Sembrong.

"The mill has been ordered to halt operations immediately and is required to carry out cleanup and repair works. Follow-up action on the suspension of its licence is also underway," the DoE said in a statement today.

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