New Straits Times 31 May 10;
KOTA TINGGI: The remaining crude oil sludge on the shores of Pengerang is expected to be cleared by Wednesday.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said more personnel from agencies such as the Environment and Marine departments and private cleaning crews had been deployed to clean up the beaches since Thursday.
The oil spillage followed a collision between Malaysian-registered MT Bunga Kelana 3 tanker with bulk carrier, MV Waily, in Singapore waters last Tuesday.
The impact of the collision caused 2,500 tonnes of crude oil to spill from a gash on the double hauled tanker's port side.
The oil slicks reached the coastal areas here two days later.
Douglas said about eight tonnes of sludge were collected between Thursday and yesterday.
Local fishermen, who were unable to go out to sea following the incident, were helping out and they were paid about RM50 a day.
Uggah orders coastline to be cleared of oil by Wednesday
Austin Camoens, The Star 31 May 10;
KOTA TINGGI: Little progress has been made in containing the oil slick caused after two vessels collided off the coast of Singapore and preventing it from reaching local shores.
And Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas is not happy about it.
He has ordered the polluted coastlines to be cleared within three days.
Blackened beach: Villagers from Pengerang cleaning up oil washed up on their shores recently.In taking the relevant authorities to task yesterday, he said they should have taken immediate preventive measures to contain the oil spill after the incident which released 2,000 tonnes of crude oil last Monday..
“The oil spill was detected on Monday, but until now there has been very little progress in containment here,” he said during a meeting with officials from various departments including the Kota Tinggi district office, Department of Environment (DOE) and Petroleum Industry of Malaysia Mutual Aid Group (PIMMAG).
Douglas said that in times of emergencies, there should be very little protocol so that swift action can be taken.
He also told officials during the meeting that the standard operating procedures of various agencies needed to be reviewed to ensure that such problems do not arise again.
He added that the ministry would make claims from the vessels’ insurers for funds to help some of the 1,400 fishermen whose livelihood have been affected by the incident.
Later when speaking to reporters, he expressed confidence that the oil pollution problem in the area would be solved soon.
In a statement yesterday, the DOE said 200 people were involved in the clean-up work at affected shores with 18,911 litres of sludge being collected.
It added that up to 11am yesterday, the affected shores were Tg. Ayam, Sg. Rengit, Sg. Musuh and Sg. Haji Ahmad.
“Cleaning-up work is still ongoing,” it said.