(AFP) Thousands of tonnes of toxic waste have been found dumped in Johor, sparking environmental and health fears, reports said today.

Berita Harian said the waste were believed to have been brought in from Singapore by illegal dumping syndicates.

The environment department made the startling discovery of 170 drums, 200 tins and 80 bags of what is believed to be toxic waste at five sites in Johor's Kota Tinggi district, according to the New Straits Times.

Samples have been collected to determine the exact toxic level, but preliminary investigation indicated most were paint, paint sludge and chemical sludge from factories, the newspaper said.

The waste may have been discarded between several weeks and six months ago and some of it was reportedly dumped into a river.

Fishermen warned

Environment department enforcement chief Abdul Hafiz Abdul Samad warned fishermen to avoid the areas until a clean-up was conducted as a substantial amount of the waste had percolated into the sandy soil.

"All fishing activities in the vicinity should cease immediately as there is a possibility that toxic chemicals have seeped into the waterway," he was quoted as saying.

Environment department officials could not be reached for comment.

Berita Harian said some 7,000 tonnes of the waste, believed to contain cynide, were found at one site housing an oil palm estate.

It quoted environment department director Rosnani Ibarahim as saying that more than 3,000 factories throughout Malaysia produced toxic waste.

"We always carry out checks on factories that produce such wastes, but not all the time. That is why some would take advantage to dump their wastes illegally," she said.