Malaysia: Satellite data shows Pasir Gudang has 46 possible illegal dumping grounds

mohd farhaan shah The Star 20 Mar 19;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Satellite data shows that Pasir Gudang has about 46 potential illegal dumping locations, says Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

She said this was one of the findings by the scientific committee formed to look into the chemical dumping incident at Sungai Kim Kim on March 7.

"The committee used satellite data to look at the whole Pasir Gudang area to identify possible illegal dumping locations.

"We hope that the state government and local authorities will take action by cleaning the identified locations," she said, adding that the ministry would provide the list to them soon.

Yeo said this in a press conference after holding a briefing session on the Sungai Kim Kim chemical dumping incident at Kota Iskandar here on Wednesday (March 20).

It was reported that chemical waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim had affected the health of more than 4,000 people.

Besides Sungai Kim Kim, authorities also found dumping grounds at Sungai Masai and Sungai Semilang.


No toxic gas detected at 46 sites
mohd farhaan shah The Star 21 Mar 19;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 46 sites with pollution potential have been detected in Pasir Gudang but none are emitting toxic gases, says Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

She said the sites included a domestic landfill and a scheduled waste centre located within the Pasir Gudang industrial area.

“This is one of the findings by the scientific committee formed to look into the chemical dumping at Sungai Kim Kim.

“The committee uses satellite data and a drone to scour the whole of Pasir Gudang to identify all possible dumping locations.

Yeo also said the ministry would strengthen its agencies’ enforcement units to prevent a repeat of the incident.

“Besides that, we will be making amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974, where we will be getting views and feedback on the matter.

“We hope that once everything is done, we will be able to table it in parliament before the end of this year,” she added.

Johor Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal, meanwhile, said the medical base at Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Indoor Stadium and the Disaster Management Committee operations centre in Menara Aqabah had been closed.

“However, the relevant agencies will continue monitoring the situation.

“Those who still feel symptoms such as eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and dizziness are advised to seek early treatment at nearby hospitals and clinics,” he said.


46 potential pollution sites identified in Pasir Gudang area
Mohamed Farid Noh New Straits Times 20 Mar 19;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Imagery from a satellite and drones has helped the authorities identify 46 areas which could potentially be toxic chemical pollution sites in the Pasir Gudang industrial zone.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the discoveries were made when the authorities used satellite imagery to monitor chemical pollution in Sungai Kim Kim.

“The Department of Environment (DoE) will investigate these sites as we are so far only basing this new information on data received from the satellite and drones. We will send DoE officers personnel there as there are no concrete statistics right now.

“We don’t know if the pollution we observed there is from domestic or scheduled waste,” she told reporters after tabling the full report of the Sungai Kim Kim pollution at the Datuk Jaafar Muhammad building here.

Present was state Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

Nearly 6,000 people were treated for various illnesses following due to toxic chemical waste being dumped into Sungai Kim Kim. The incident saw the closure of 111 schools in Pasir Gudang.

Asked if the 46 new locations would also have to be cleaned up, Yeo said she could not provide a definite answer as that was under the purview of the state government and the local council.

“I will submit the list of the 46 locations to the state government for further action,” she said.

Meanwhile, Yeo said her ministry would set up a committee to assess the Pasir Gudang industrial zone and rivers which have been polluted in the area.

“This is spare the residents from being affected any further by the Sungai Kim Kim incident. We will also propose that such committees be set up in other industrial zones in the country,” she said.


Health Ministry: Almost 6,000 sought treatment over Sungai Kim Kim pollution
Azura Abas New Straits Times 20 Mar 19;

PUTRAJAYA: The pollution in Sungai Kim Kim had forced a total of 5,848 people to seek treatment after inhaling toxic fumes.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said out of the total number, 951 were warded and 25 ended up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after inhaling toxic fumes emitted from chemical waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim on March 7.

"The rest (4,872) were given outpatient treatment. I am grateful there is no fatality.

"We have also deployed 262 ministry staff to address the health issues triggered by the illegal dumping of chemicals," he told reporters after the launch of the World Oral Health Day today.

He added that things had returned to normal in Pasir Gudang, and the Health Ministry had since closed its ground command centre as of 9am today.

Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry wanted the culprits responsible in the illegal dumping of chemical waste to be brought to justice as soon as possible.

The toxic pollution had also forced the closure of all 111 schools in Pasir Gudang until the school break.

Police have 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.

On Malaysians' oral health, Dr Dzulkefly said studies had shown eight out of 10 Malaysians did not know they had oral health problems.

"In Malaysia, only 27.4 per cent of adults have made the efforts to do dental check-up within one year. The low percentage is contributed to 68 per cent of the public who do not perceive that they have oral problems."

He added oral diseases should not be seen in isolation which is only limited in the oral cavity.

"There are many serious illnesses such as mouth cancer and infections or acute odontogenic infection which need medical treatment," he said.


Health Ministry set to undertake cohort study on Sungai Kim Kim pollution victims
Bernama New Straits Times 19 Mar 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is ready to undertake a cohort study on victims of the Sungai Kim Kim chemical waste pollution in Pasir Gudang for long-term research and monitoring purposes.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said it would be conducted as soon as possible by taking into account aspects of the methodology, protocol and financial provisions.

“Our focus is on the victims. Patients who are exposed to chemicals, you do not subject them to the lab (carrying out tests in the laboratory) when you get an opportunity like this, you must take the chance to follow through and conduct cohort studies.

“This study will be somewhat easier as the data of the victims is contained in the Health Ministry’s database. What needs to be determined is the long-term impact on the victim, whether the individual is at risk of getting cancer or if it has an effect on the reproductive system. We cannot be slow in conducting this study,” he told reporters after officiating the ASEAN Healthcare Transformation Summit here today.

Meanwhile, commenting on the latest developments of the pollution victims, Dr Dzulkefly said that as of midnight (March 18), there were 46 patients still being treated at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) and Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) in Johor Baru.

"Four victims are still being warded in the Intensive Care Unit … non-ventilated and non-incubated. They have passed the critical stage and are stable. Thankfully, there were no deaths from the chemical waste pollution.

"The trend is clear … it is going down and we hope there are no other victims exposed to the chemical waste," he said.

Meanwhile, a three-day health summit starting today saw more than 300 healthcare practitioners from hospitals in the ASEAN region focusing on the health revolution 4.0, the network on digital health and healthcare suppliers. - Bernama

Lotte Chemical denies rumours of its involvement in Sg Kim Kim pollution
Bernama New Straits Times 20 Mar 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd has denied rumours that it was involved in the pollution of Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang and is considering legal recourse against those who made the allegation.

“The company hereby denies the rumours and wishes to announce that all its plants in Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat are operating under normal conditions and they are conducting business as usual,” it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

Lotte Chemical Titan brushed aside a claim that its plants in Pasir Gudang will or have been shut down for about two weeks due to the pollution of the Sungai Kim Kim incident.

“The company views this matter seriously and is considering all appropriate action, including legal recourse, as it deems fit against any party that initiates, disseminates or circulates baseless allegations or rumours,” it said.

Lotte Chemical said it has been working closely with the authorities, other organisations and companies in the vicinity to provide support and render assistance.

“The board is cognisant of the need for proper dissemination of information to the public and an announcement on Bursa Malaysia will be released on any material issue in a timely manner in accordance with the Listing Requirement.”

It said the company would continue to monitor rumours or inaccurate information affecting the company.

Lotte Chemical Titan shares were flat at RM4.27 at lunch break, with 134,700 shares traded.

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 term break.

Police have since arrested 11 individuals over the incident. --Bernama