Odour Problems in Malaysia

1. Major Livestock Sector

In Malaysia, livestock sector is evolving in response to rapidly increasing demand for

livestock products. However, the livestock business is one of the problems that
contribute to odour pollution. The anaerobic decomposition of stored animal wastes
generates various volatile metabolic compounds of which a dozen contributes to
odour, in particular hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia 1. These can cause
continuous source of strong, persistent and unreasonably offensive odours.

Even though, all domestic fowl wastes are collected for use as bio-fertiliser in
agricultural crops and organic vegetables and may cause no major environmental
hazard, the uncontrolled discharge, such as discharge waste from indiscriminate
dumping of chicken carcasses and activity of contract farming to small holder
farmers may cause malodour.

For example, in 1998, large-scale pig farming in Negeri Sembilan had led to
discharges of polluting effluent into tributaries of the Sepang River 2. Although pig
waste can be utilised but due to religious sensitivity, these advantages are not
practical here, and therefore the wastes are collected in open-air pits called waste
lagoons, where it is minimally treated. Thus, the presence of large amounts of
partially decomposed organic material within the faces cause odour pollution.

2. Weaknesses of Complain System.

Odour problem is not an overnight phenomenon. It is an issue that builds itself over a
long term, increase its intensity gradually from the sources such as livestock farms,
dumpsite and sewerage treatments plants which then overwhelms the local citizens.

1 Nasip Eli, Khong Kwai Weng and Martin Oming, (2015) Regulation Of Livestock Farming
In Sabah:Issues And Challenges

2 Lim Chia Ying, (2015). Keeping a river clean. The Star (STAR2), June 15, 2015,
p 8.
In Malaysia, odour nuisance is rarely reported and the impression that made the
issues seemingly insignificant is due to poor complain system through which the
people could lodge their issues.

Although they were apparently disturbed by the continuing odour and had access to
various forms of communication facilities, none voiced a formal complaint about the
issue. This is because the affected population did not have sufficient knowledge and
access to complain about the odour issues. They are not clear to whom and what
they need to do to lodge their complaint.

Besides that, half believed their complaints would not be addressed seriously by the
relevant authorities and thought that the complaints process would be lengthy. For
instance, the Consumers Association of Penang was disappointed with the manner
of Penang State government, Municipal Council of Seberang Perai and other
government agencies handled the complaint of odour pollution that has had a great
impact on the community in Kampung Tok Subuh, Juru near Bukit Mertajam,
Seberang Perai Tengah3.

The community here complained that occasionally they are still beset by the odour
and thus its still a nuisance and intolerable. However, Municipal Council of Seberang
Perai then wrote to the complainant to appoint a competent person for a second
opinion and present their findings within 14 days. Failure to do so will render the
case closed by Municipal Council of Seberang Perai and no further action will be
taken.

Therefore, the lack of well-defined complaint channels, procedures and the

mechanism of addressing the registered complaints affect the tendency of the
parties involved to make a complaint in relation to odor pollution

3. Lack of Education

3 Odour Pollution: An Environmental Pollution that Must be Abated : Government

Should Serve People not Corporations. Retrieved November 29, 2016, from
http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/development/environment/966-odour-
pollution-an-environmental-pollution-that-must-be-abated-government-should-
serve-people-not-corporations
The education background of the affected population also have influenced the
perception on odour as a nuisance and their inclination to voice their ill comfort. The
understanding of laws in general and environmental laws in particular by the public is
limited. Despite of basic knowledge they have, sometimes people are often confuse
between air pollution and odour pollution.

Most of the active complainers to public services were often those with higher
income, higher education and a tendency to be younger than non-complainers 4.
Hence, the low complaint rates were probably due to the higher proportion of poorly
educated.

4. Lack of Enforcement of Law.

Like some other countries, it is said about Malaysia that environmental laws are quite
good, but enforcement of these is not that good. The capacity of authorities to handle
violations of the environmental law is weak with cumbersome procedures to enforce
the law. When penalties are issued, fines are often low and there is no requirement
for the defendant to take steps to restore the breach. Although companies may pay
the fine it may be cheaper than investing in modern odour control technology to
prevent further breaches.

Besides that, the lack of follow-up means that one violation may be repeated many
times. For instance, the odour pollution from river in Kampung Titi Hitam near Nibong
Tebal has dragged on for so long5. The Consumers Association of Penang was
shocked to see factory operators allowed to build factories very close to rivers and
without any control over the waste being dumped into the river. They also believe
that the factories in the area are not monitored and waste is not managed in a
systematic manner. This is because the river had turned black and smelly due to
industrial waste and rubbish.

4 Nastaein Qamaruz Zaman and Zuriana Mat Jam, Odour Nuisance and the Need for
Effective Complaint Measures in Malaysia: A Case Study of a Public Institution in Penang,
Chemical Engineering Transactions 2014Vol 40, p. 100

5 Pollution Problem in Seberang Perai Getting Worse. Retreived November 29, 2016, from
http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/development/environment/889-pollution-
problem-in-seberang-perai-getting-worse
5. Limitation of research and tools

Most of the researchers tend to focus on air pollution such as hazes. Issues on
odour pollution have not been given much attention. Furthermore, due to the lack of
proper technological tools for its measurement led research on odour pollution is
hard to do. Such instruments are only owned by a handful of research institutes such
as Malaysia Rubber Research Institute, Malaysian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (MARDI) and The National University of Malaysia (UKM) and
a few other institutions6.

Recommendations
1. Management of Livestock Waste and Yard Cleanliness

Effective management of livestock waste and clean livestock yards will reduce the
intensity rate of odour concentration from the livestock farms. In actual sense, the
reduction of odour is difficult to be assessed and verified through a written document.
However, the reduction of foul odours can be measured by the workers and local
residents in the vicinity of livestock farms 7. If the livestock waste is managed well,
then the locals near the farm will not be exposed to the stench.

2. Establishing Buffer Zone between Odour Emission Areas and Surrounding

Areas

The use of buffer zones is a strategy to reduce the impact of malodours in residential
zones. The concept of a buffer zone is based on establishing a minimum distance
from the odour emission to the exposed population in order to avoid odour
nuisances8. The buffer zone is built of trees around the odour emission areas. The

6 Zaini Sakawi and Lukman Ismail. (2015), Managing odour pollution from livestock
sources in Malaysia: Issuesand challenges. Malaysian Journal of Society and Space Vol 11
Issue 13 pp 96 103.

7 Ibid 6 : Zaini Sakawi and Lukman Ismail.

8 J. M. Estrada, R. Lebrero, G. Quijano, N. J. R. Kraakman and R. Munoz. (2013).

Odour Impact Assessment Handbook (1st Ed) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. P 89
trees not only able to moderate temperatures of the environment but also filter dirty
air through it.

4. Technologies of Odour Control

There are many types of odour control technologies in the market. Two main types of
technologies to treat odour are physical/chemical and biological. Physical/chemical
technologies remove bad-smelling emissions by changing them with chemicals
burning and by adsorbing the emissions with carbon 9. Meanwhile, biological
technologies remove emissions using biofilters, that pass the emissions upwards
whilst simultaneously trickling a cleansing solution downwards (biotrickling filters) 10.
Besides that, biological systems for odour control rely basically on the
microorganism activity that converts odour compounds in the waste air or
wastewater to carbon dioxide and water as in a chemical system. Thus, biological
treatment is effective and economical for low concentrations of contaminants in large
quantities of air.

5. Effective Distribution of Complaint Channels.

Odour nuisance to the community is often detected through complaints raised by the
residents. Transparency in the complaints process and data management is
necessary whereby the public is well informed of the actions taken by the relevant
authorities over their plight11. Once regulators have higher quality information and
more integrated information systems, it will not be difficult for them to manage odour
pollution more cost-effectively. Hence, the need for improvement in odour complaints
management data for Malaysia is recommended.

6. Role of Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs)

9 Best technologies for treating bad smells from wastewater identified (2011).
"Science for Environment Policy": European Commission DG Environment News
Alert Service, edited by SCU, The University of the West of England, Bristol. Issue
229 p 1.

10 M. Schlegelmilch and J. Streese, R. Stegmann. (2005). Odour management

and treatment technologies: An overview. p 932

11 Ibid 4: Nastaein Qamaruz Zaman and Zuriana Mat Jam. p 100

Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs), dedicated for the cause of protection of
the environment, can play a positive role in enforcing environmental laws on odour
pollution. In addition to actively engaging in prevention of odour pollution, they can
educate the people on odour pollution and help them bring cases against polluters.
Besides that, in Malaysia, where locus standi is strictly adhered to, NGOs can simply
take the affected people to the court and provide all necessary assistance to fight the
case. Thus, NGOs can play a limitless proactive role.

7. Role of Public Authorities.

Prevention interventions are always a better way of controlling odour pollution.

These prevention methods can come from the government authorities. For instance,
the authorities should monitor the farm performance and ensure that the operation is
carried out under best management practice.

Besides that, the authorities such as the Department of Environmental in particular

should conduct active promotion to the public so that they are able to report on the
activities causing the odour pollution. These campaigns can increase public
awareness on odour pollution and their rights to an improved condition.

8. Reward Mechanism

A reward mechanism should be implemented to encourage business, organisations

and local people to detect violations, and take action to address odour pollution at
the local level. These rewards may be monetary.

Conclusion
Odour pollution is indeed the most complex of all the air pollution problems. From an
environmental perspective, offensive odour emissions affect the quality of life
individuals.

In Malaysia, there are many issues and challenges still faced by the local authorities
to actualise an integrated odour management control. Thus, efforts to abate odour
levels are necessary in order to maintain the quality of the environment and enhance
life.