Malaysia: Govt working on stiffer punishment following Pasir Gudang toxic fumes incident

Syed Umar Ariff New Straits Times 19 Mar 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: Stiffer punishment may be introduced as part of amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974, following the toxic fumes incident in Pasir Gudang.

Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis told the Dewan Rakyat today that measures were also in the pipeline to significantly reduce pollution.

"We are proposing to change (amend) the Act, and continuously strengthen overall enforcement to ensure pollution can be significantly reduced effectively," she said.

Isnaraissah was replying to a question from Larry S'ng (Julau-PH) on the government's plans to beef up existing laws to combat pollution by strengthening punishment under Section 34(b) of the act, which carries maximum RM500,000 fine and a jail up to five years.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin had earlier said her ministry had been in communication with the Attorney-General over efforts to increase punishment under the Act.

Some 3,000 people had been hospitalised in Pasir Gudang after inhaling toxic fumes emitted from chemical waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim on March 7.

The pollution forced the closure of 111 schools until the school break.

Police have since arrested nine individuals over the incident.


Pasir Gudang toxic spill mastermind being identified
Teoh Pei Ying New Straits Times 19 Mar 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests in connection with the illegal dumping that led to toxic pollution of Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, Johor.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said they had so far arrested nine men; two in Johor and seven outside the state.

All nine had been remanded for six days since Monday to facilitate the investigation.

"Those arrested were directly involved in the case, but we are still in the midst of identifying the mastermind," Mohamad Fuzi said.

The case is being investigated under Section 278, 284 and 326 of the Penal Code.

Some 3,000 people had been hospitalised in Pasir Gudang after inhaling toxic fumes emitted from chemical waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim on March 7.

The pollution had forced the closure of 111 schools until the school break.


Stiffer penalties for polluters
The Star 20 Mar 19;

STIFFER penalties await environmental polluters once the Environmental Quality Act 1974 is amended, says Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.

“Yes, we are proposing to amend the Act.

“We are looking at ways to make it more comprehensive and with stricter enforcement to reduce environmental pollution,” she said when responding to a supplementary question raised by Larry Sng Wei Shien (PH-Julau) in Dewan Rakyat.

Sng had asked if there were plans to amend Section 34B of the Act which presently carries a maximum jail sentence of five years and a maximum fine of RM500,000 upon conviction.

Isnaraissah Munirah also told the Dewan Rakyat that the toxic waste collected from Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang would not be transferred to Negri Sembilan.

She said the government would ensure no other place experienced the Pasir Gudang incident.

“We are already facing the incident in Pasir Gudang and have no intention to transfer it to Negri Sembilan,” she said, replying to Cha Kee Chin’s (PH-Rasah) concern over Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian’s statement that toxic waste cleared from Sungai Kim Kim would be transferred to Negri Sembilan.

“If Johor does not want the toxic waste, Negri Sembilan does not want it either.

“I have asked the ministry to clarify if the statement by the Johor MB is true.

“If it is true, it would be unfair to Negri Sembilan as we do not want to become victims,” Cha said.

Osman was reported on Sunday as saying that the incinerated remains of the toxic waste would be sent to the Kualiti Alam Hazardous Waste Management Facility in Bukit Pelanduk, Seremban.

Two held for transporting toxic material
The Star 20 Mar 19;

PASIR GUDANG: Two suspects believed to be involved in the transportation of toxic material that contaminated Sungai Kim Kim have been arrested.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the latest arrest was in addition to the nine people detained so far over the case.

“Both are believed to be responsible in allowing the transportation of the toxic material,” he said, adding that all the suspects were aged 27 to 41 years.

Addressing a press conference at Menara Aqabah here last night, he said one of the nine had, however, been released with a police bond after initial investigation showed that he had no relation to the case.

The police have also seized the lorry that had been used to transport the chemical to the dumping location at Sungai Kim Kim near Taman Kota Masai.

“We will try to wrap up this case as quickly as we can because it is of great public interest,” he said, adding they would submit their findings to the Deputy Public Prosecutor.

The two suspects are believed to have ties with a factory here and are under remand until March 27.

Earlier, in KUALA LUMPUR, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said that several of the nine suspects arrested over the dumping in Sungai Kim Kim were allegedly directly involved in the crime.

The suspects are being remanded until March 23 to help in the police probe.

“Based on our investigation, some of them were working with several companies and a number of them were connected to criminal elements.

“Our main focus is on the environmental crime itself and all else will be investigated later on,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Police Cooperative, Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association and Security Industry Association at Bukit Aman.

“We have until March 23 to investigate if the mastermind is among those we have arrested,” he said.

In an unrelated case, Mohamad Fuzi said police would investigate allegations that three of their personnel were involved in accepting bribes and protecting a massage parlour in Wangsa Maju.

“My directives were clear, enforcement against gambling and vice must be conducted without fear or favour.

“Anyone involved will face action if they are found guilty,” he said adding that police station chief and two personnel on duty in the Wangsa Maju district were currently under the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission’s (MACC) custody.