Malaysia: 111 Pasir Gudang schools reopen after Sg Kim Kim pollution disaster

Mohamed Farid Noh New Straits Times 31 Mar 19;

PASIR GUDANG: Classes resumed at 111 schools in Pasir Gudang today after being closed for approximately two weeks following the chemical pollution of Sungai Kim Kim, which sickened thousands.

Checks by the New Straits Times at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pasir Gudang 2, which is located about 5km from Sungai Kim Kim, saw many students still wearing face masks as a precautionary measure.

It is learnt that roughly 90 per cent of pupils have returned to their respective schools.

Form 4 student Mohammad Muiz Zainuddin, 16, said many of his classmates returned to school despite still being worried over the incident.

“We are attending school as usual today, though we were encouraged to wear face masks as a precautionary measure,” he said.

The schools were closed on March 13 after fumes from chemical wastes which were illegally dumped into Sungai Kim Kim caused breathing difficulties for almost 6,000 people in Pasir Gudang.

The decision to reopen the schools was made after a thorough clean-up operation of the river, and test results which showed low levels of pollution.

Sanitation works were also conducted at all schools before the reopening.

The dumping of the chemical substances on March 7 caused 5,848 people to seek medical treatment after inhaling toxic fumes wafting from the river.

The last victim was released from hospital on March 25.

A used tyre processing factory and two of its directors were charged at the Sessions Court with 15 offences under two environmental regulations.