For R. Nithiananthan, 38, the morning of November 5 began like any other. But as he approached his grazing field in Taman Tronoh Baru, Batu Gajah, his heart sank — 17 of his cows lay dead.
“The smell was so strong, like burnt chemicals,” he said softly. “I didn’t just lose my animals — I lost my livelihood.” The loss amounts to nearly RM50,000, wiping out years of effort.
He immediately filed a police report and appealed for intervention from the Department of Environment and Veterinary Services Department. “If this chemical is toxic, the whole community is at risk,” he warned.
Residents confirmed that chemical dumping had been going on for weeks.
“We’ve seen trucks coming at night. The waste is buried under rubbish,” said Nor Affandi Ahmad, a nearby resident.
BN Perak’s Mohd Rawi Abdullah called the situation alarming.
“This is more than an environmental issue — it’s about protecting lives. We need swift action,” he said.