Malaysia: Schools in Pasir Gudang still closed

Bernama New Straits Times 16 Mar 19;

BANTING: The Education Ministry confirms that 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang district were still closed due to the toxic pollution from the dumping of chemicals into Sungai Kim Kim.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the schools concerned would be reopened at a date to be announced later.

"We look at the situation first. We don’t have a date for the reopening of the schools," he told reporters after officiating the Private Education Open Day at MAHSA University, here, today.

On Wednesday, the ministry directed 111 schools in Pasir Gudang closed following the toxic pollution based on the current situation and feedback from the State Disaster Management Committee.

Yesterday, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Yeo Bee Yin said the most polluted 680-metre of the 1.5 km long KimKim River had been cleaned involving 90 workers from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Maszlee urged all Malaysian students in Christchurch, New Zealand and nearby cities to exercise caution following the random shooting incidents at two mosques in Christchurch, yesterday.

"So far, none of our students are affected. All the 303 Malaysian students in Christchurch are safe.

"We hope our students will take precautionary measures. We pray the best for our students and Malaysians there,’’ he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement yesterday, reported that two Malaysians were injured in the incidents at the two mosques in Christchurch and were currently undergoing treatment. — BERNAMA


Majority of new cases at Pasir Gudang medic base due to anxiety and panic
venesa devi The Star 16 Mar 19;

JOHOR BARU: The majority of new cases registered at the medic base at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here were caused by panic and anxiety.

Mercy Malaysia clinical psychologist Dr Azlina Roszy Mohd Gaffar said that about 70% to 90% of the cases exhibited symptoms of anxiety.

"The anxiety sparked by the panic caused some of them to experience symptoms such as hyperventilation, shortness of breath and dizziness.

"The symptoms can be made worst if the victim already has other chronic disease including asthma," she said at a press conference at the medic base here on Saturday (March 16).

"The cleaning process of Sungai Kim Kim is also on the right track as the contractors were able to clear 1km of the river yesterday.

"We hope to be able finish cleaning the river by today or tomorrow if the weather permits," she added.


Air quality good over Pasir Gudang but public advised to continue to use masks
Bernama New Straits Times 16 Mar 19;

JOHOR BAHARU: The air quality over Pasir Gudang has been deemed to be safe for now but the agencies involved in “Ops Kim Kim” are continuing monitoring round the clock.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Yahaya Madis said that based on the samplings done today, there were no readings over 3 parts per million (ppm) for dangerous gases (3 ppm is the danger level).

“Even though the situation is safe, the public is advised to continue using face masks as a precaution. We fear there may be release of toxic gases while the cleaning up work is being carried out at the river where toxic waste was dumped,” he told a press conference at the department’s command and control centre at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here.

He said precautions were still necessary due to detection of hydrogen cyanide at above 4.5 ppm at a house in Tanjung Puteri on March 15.

However, he said the dangerous gas dissipated quickly as a second sampling done in an hour showed.

He added that the department was also acting as a “safety advisor” to the teams doing the cleaning up work.

Pasir Gudang plunged into a crisis after toxic waste dumped in Sungai Kim Kim there caused severe air pollution, leaving the health of more than 3,000 people affected with some requiring hospitalisation while more than 100 schools in the district still remain closed.– BERNAMA


15 types of chemicals found in air samples
venesa devi The Star 17 Mar 19;

PASIR GUDANG: The Fire and Rescue Department has identified at least 15 types of chemicals in air samples taken from areas surrounding Sungai Kim Kim, including hydrogen cyanide.

Its Johor department director Datuk Yahaya Madis said while most of these gases were harmless, some – such as hydrogen cyanide – could be harmful if found in high concentration or if a person was exposed to it for too long.

“So far, the highest reading of hydrogen cyanide we have seen was 4.5ppm (parts per million) on March 13 at Taman Tanjung Puteri Resort.

“However, the reading returned to normal after less than two hours and did not spread to other areas,” he said, adding that currently the air quality around Pasir Gudang had improved since Friday.

Since then, there have been three waves of air pollution as the chemicals washed downstream towards the Straits of Johor.

Yahaya said currently, based on their tests, the concentration of hydrogen cyanide was at a safe level of 3ppm and below around the area.“While it is below the risky threshold, we still need to be alert as the readings can change according to the wind and weather.

“We are taking air readings from time to time to ensure clean-up does not deteriorate the air quality,” he said in a press conference at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Pasir Gudang Ama­­nah division chairman and complaints centre supervisor Syed Oth­man Syed Abdullah has filed a police report over fake viral news about the incident which has caused unnecessary public fear.

“In one of the messages being circulated on WhatsApp, the culprit claimed a 14-year-old had died due to the toxic fumes, which is not true.

“Another Facebook post claimed Kota Masai was unsafe and the public was urged to evacuate the area,” he said.

He pointed out that some of the original posts had been removed but the fake news had already gone viral.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the toxic fumes is a one-off “acute exposure” (short-term) and it was not expected to cause long-term chronic effects.He pointed out that the level of toxicity was low and would not kill those who had been exposed to it.

“I’d like to emphasise that what we are witnessing here is an acute exposure where the dose is not fatal,” he said here yesterday.

Asked if villagers and residents staying near the river should be evacuated during the clean-up operation, he said that it was not the ministry’s jurisdiction to give such an instruction.

“The agencies did find hydrogen cyanide but it is at a very low level, which is at 5ppm.

“We will wait and see if there is such a need but at the moment, the clean-up operation will continue. It is already reaching almost 1km (stretch),” he said.



Cleaning up works at Sungai Kim Kim progressing smoothly
Mohamed Farid Noh New Straits Times 16 Mar 19;

PASIR GUDANG: Cleaning up works at the polluted area in Sungai Kim Kim are going smoothly, with a total of 1 kilometre of the 1.5 kilometre affected area covered as of midnight yesterday.

Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, Yeo Bee Yin, said she was satisfied with the progress, in particular in the way the works were done in a prompt and careful manner.

"This is good development, following works to clean up the area which was most contaminated with hazardous chemical waste - covering 680 metres - yesterday afternoon.

"We expect works to clean up the remaining 500-metre area to complete within two days if the weather permits," she added.

Yeo said this after visiting victims at the early treatment centre at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) Indoor Stadium (MPPG), here.

Yeo was reported yesterday as saying the cleaning works were done 24 hours a day by three contractors, involving 90 workers since last Wednesday.

"A total of 250 jumbo bags containing soil and sludge materials as well as 350 metric tons of contaminated water was collected in operations that began on March 13, and will be disposed off to a refinery licensed by the Johor Department of Environment, "she said yesterday.