The waste, some packed in sacks, cannot be seen from the main road because it is blocked by rows of oil palm trees.

Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon said he believed the dumping had been going on for some time but was only recently discovered.

He said the Seberang Perai Municipal Council had wanted to put up surveillance cameras but the area was too remote to even have cellular phone reception.

The council has issued a notice to the landowner to cease all activity on the site.

Lee said while there was no immediate danger to the people living nearby as the area is surrounded by oil palm trees and a chicken farm, the state must come up with a plan to end such illegal dumping.

He noted that last week, drums of an unknown liquid were also found nearby this oil palm estate.

“We can see that plastics are being dumped here. They appear to be from China.

“The authorities need to investigate immediately,” he said.

Checks at the site showed mountains of plastic waste and other household items strewn all over.

Earlier today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow vowed stern action against polluters and said a report on the matter would be prepared by state Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.