Malaysia: Portion of Sungai Klang polluted by unidentified chemical substance

Dawn Chan New Straits Times 14 Mar 19;

KLANG: A portion of Sungai Klang has been found to be polluted by a chemical substance that has yet to be identified and the authorities believe it was dumped by irresponsible parties earlier today.

Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) director Datuk Hashim Osman said the affected part of the river was confined to a stretch near Taman Eng Ann in Klang.

He said the pollutant was detected following complaints made by the public to Luas at about 6pm.

"We have taken samples of the chemical substance. It was immediately sent to the lab for testing to ascertain what sort of chemical substance it is.

“Initial checks showed that the chemical substance may have been dumped into a pond, which then flowed into a drain and into Sungai Klang. An in-depth investigation into this case has been launched," Hashim told the New Straits Times tonight.

Hashim said Luas has also alerted the Department of Environment as well as the Klang Municipal Council on the matter.

Hashim added that the situation was under control.

"The pollution will not affect the water supply as it is the downstream of Sungai Klang and it is not hazardous to humans. It may affect the river life but it all depends on the type of chemical, which we do not know yet so far," he said.

21 substances found in waste dumped into Klang retention pond
priya menon The Star 15 Mar 19;

A TOTAL of 21 substances have been found in the waste disposed into the flood retention pond in Taman Eng Ann Klang near the Klang River, but authorities assure that the situation is under control.

Selangor state executive councillor and Bandar Baru Klang assemblyman Datuk Teng Chang Khim said the contamination had not been classified as a disaster zone.

The cocktail of substances was discovered in a preliminary test but the names of the chemicals have not been verified.

Teng also said they had taken all necessary steps to stop the chemicals from flowing into Klang River located close to the contamination spill.

The Selangor Water Contamination Emergency committee has closed off the water outlet from the drain to the river.

He said absorbent pads had been placed in the drains and oil booms at the outlets to stop remnants of the contamination from reaching the river.

Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari had earlier issued a statement asking people not to panic in light of the incident.

He said mitigation efforts had been on-going since 8pm on Thursday (March 14) night and contractors were appointed on Friday morning (March 15) to start cleaning works.

The clean-up is expected to take at least two days.

Amirudin also said in his statement that a police report had been lodged by the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) to identify the guilty party.

A statement released by LUAS said the tanker suspected of dumping the waste has been located with the help of nearby residents.

However, the lorry driver had yet to be apprehended or identified.