SHAH ALAM, Dec 24 — A crash involving a lorry carrying a load of perfume oil at Kilometre (KM) 44.1 northbound of the North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) near Bandar Serenia, Negeri Sembilan, caused the closure of the Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants (LRA) this morning.

Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs Standing Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) found that the distance between the crash site and the Semenyih LRA was about 6.4 km, and 18 km to the Bukit Tampoi LRA.

According to him, LUAS then activated ‘Code Red’ based on the Water Resource Pollution Emergency Manual to carry out thorough inspections.

"As of 10.30am, the smell of the oil was still detected in the river with a reading of 1 ton.

"Therefore, the LRA can only operate again after a reading of 0 tons has been recorded three times in a row," he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Hee said the lorry involved was towed away, while the container it was carrying was in the process of being moved.

He said the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and the contractor carried out early prevention works by installing barriers and early cleaning to contain the effects of the spill.

Hee added that LUAS also placed three oil booms and a box full of oil pads at the location as an initial preventive measure, besides placing 12 bags of activated carbon in Sungai Limau Manis to reduce the odour in the river.

"The cleaning work is expected to be completed by around 5 pm today," he added. — Bernama