Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Azlan issued the remand order against the eight, aged between 28 and 66, following an application by police to facilitate their investigation.

Those remanded were a 31-year-old company director, his 62-year-old father and six employees – two Malaysians and four foreigners from Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar.

They are being held for investigation in accordance with Section 430 of the Penal Code for allegedly committing mischief by causing a diminution in the supply of water for agricultural purposes or for drinking.

The section provides for a jail term of between five and 30 years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The eight men, who were brought to the Selayang court complex, were arrested in Rawang at 11.30am yesterday.

Air Selangor had detected an odour in the raw water source in Sungai Selangor on Monday morning, causing the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant operations to be stopped.

The shutdown caused water disruptions to 1,292 areas in several Klang Valley districts.