Malaysia: Authorities confirm - Latest Pasir Gudang pollution caused by Sg Kim Kim toxic waste

Siti A'isyah Sukaimi New Straits Times 24 Jun 19;

PUTRAJAYA: The authorities have confirmed that the airborne contaminants, which left a number of students in Pasir Gudang hospitalised since last week, was due to excess toxic waste from Sungai Kim Kim, which first affected residents back in March.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said this was the information obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department, who were conducting investigations in the area.

“I have received information from the department that the case appears to be a repeat of the Sungai Kim Kim incident. I was made to understand that a contractor had previously been tasked with cleaning up and removing the harmful substances from the river.

“However, the substances were not 100 per cent removed. As such, the substances, left in Pasir Gudang exposed to the elements such as wind and rain, began spreading,” she told reporters after attending a ministry event here on Monday.

She said works to clean up and dispose of the substances have to be done as soon as possible.

She said the Department of Environment (DoE), as well as the Johor state government, have been informed of the development to ensure that the items are disposed of properly.

“We have confirmed that this was the remnants of chemical substances which had previously polluted Sungai Kim Kim,” she said.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department director-general, Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the area’s air quality is still poor despite being located a distance from Sungai Kim Kim.

“The fire department will work together with the DoE, the local authorities as well as the state government on this issue.

“We will give our full cooperation on this. We will also continue to render assistance to the Health Ministry. I believe that many of the victims who were sent to hospital are in stable condition,” he said.

Last Thursday, a number of students from schools in the Pasir Gudang area began complaining of nausea and dizziness and experienced vomiting. This eventually led to the temporary closure of the schools in the area.

This latest incident comes a mere three months after the discovery that Sungai Kim Kim was the site of severe toxic pollution, which affected more than 6,000 residents.

All schools in Pasir Gudang district ordered to close for three days (updated)
nelson benjamin and mohd farhaan shah The Star 24 Jun 19;

JOHOR BARU: All educational institutions in Pasir Gudang district have been ordered to close for three days following chemical pollution in the area.

There are 475 education institutions in Pasir Gudang registered with the state Education Department, comprising 111 primary and secondary schools, three higher education institutions, 14 private and international schools and 347 private kindergartens.

In a statement, state Education Department director Azman Adnan said these would be closed for three days from Tuesday to Thursday (June 25-27) to allow authorities to work on clearing the pollution.

"All principles and headmasters have been told to inform their students, teachers, parents and staff about the closure.

"The department will continue to monitor and help schools to ensure the students well-being," he said.

To date, more than 100 students from more than 30 schools have been affected due to the air pollution, which surfaced on Thursday (June 20).

This is the second time in three months that authorities have ordered all schools in the district to be close down due to pollution.

In March, all 111 schools were also ordered to close following toxic fumes coming from Sungai Kim Kim.

Authorities narrow down possible culprits to 30 factories
The Star 25 Jun 19;

PASIR GUDANG: The authorities have narrowed down to 30 chemical factories that may have caused the second air pollution in the district and the order is out to find the main polluter.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said he had given a directive to the Department of Environment (DoE) and other agencies to find the main culprit.

He said there were 265 factories in Pasir Gudang.

“Once we find the factory, we will issue a letter for them to cease their operations until we carry out full investigations,” he said at a press conference, which was also attended by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah, at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium yesterday.

The schools are SMK Tanjung Puteri Resort, SK Taman Pasir Putih, SK Pasir Gudang 2, SK Pasir Gudang 1, SMK Bandar Seri Alam 2, SMK Taman Pasir Putih, SK Tanjung Puteri Resort, SMK Bandar Seri Alam, SK Taman Rinting 2, SK Taman Rinting 3, SK Desa Cemerlang, SK Kota Masai, SMK Taman Megah Ria, SK Pasir Putih and SK Taman Megah Ria 2.

“About 75 people have been referred to Sultan Ismail Hospital, with four more victims still seeking treatment but do not need intensive medical care,” he said.

Dr Sahruddin denied that the source of the current pollution was the same as Sungai Kim Kim’s toxic incident as blood test from 15 samples showed no traces of acrylonitrate, acrolein and cyanide, which were found in Sungai Kim Kim.

Dr Dzulkefly also confirmed that the toxicity level of the current air pollution was not as dangerous and severe compared to the Sungai Kim Kim incident.

“The toxicity level is at 1,130 parts per million where it causes breathing difficulties and vomiting to happen among the victims.

“But the level is not as dangerous as Sungai Kim Kim where some were treated in the intensive care unit,” he added.

MESTECC denies claim that Pasir Gudang issue linked to Sg Kim Kim
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 24 Jun 19;

PASIR GUDANG: The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) has denied claims that the chemical air pollution affecting the district is tied to the previous Sungai Kim Kim pollution.

Its deputy minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said the case was different from the Sungai Kim Kim incident as the two chemical compounds identified in the previous case, namely acrylonitrile and acrolein, were not detected this time.

"Moreover, all the waste taken previously from Sungai Kim Kim had been disposed off by incineration by the appointed contractor on April 8,” Isnaraissah told the media at the operations monitoring centre at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here on Monday.

Isnaraissah said following checks, the Department of Environment (DoE) was currently investigating 30 chemical factories which process the same chemical compound as the gas detected which led to the problems faced in Pasir Gudang since last Thursday.

"The DoE has narrowed down three chemical compounds which may have caused the problem. We will identify the exact compound within the next one or two days," she said.

Her statement, however, contradicted that of Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who earlier in Putrajaya had said the problem was due to the remnants of chemical substances which had previously polluted Sungai Kim Kim.

She said this was obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department, which was conducting investigations in the area.

Zuraida said the contractor previously tasked with cleaning up and removing the harmful substances from the river did not do a thorough job and as such, the substances, exposed to the elements such as wind and rain, began spreading.

Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said the state government would be issuing notices to the 30 factories which may have played a role in the issue.

“These factories were found to have used the three identified compounds. The DoE will focus its investigation on these factories and if any of them are found to have been responsible, action will be taken against them," he said, adding that the authorities would remove the offending compounds from these factories.

On Thursday, 15 students from SA Taman Mawar, Pasir Gudang, as well as the nearby SK Pasir Gudang 4, were hospitalised over suspected exposure to air pollution.

The incident worsened on Sunday when 20 students from another school - SMK Taman Nusa Damai - displayed symptoms of air pollution exposure and were rushed to hospital.

Today, 75 people were referred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital for treatment with four being warded for further treatment and are reported to be in astable condition.