The Star 14 Jul 19;
JOHOR BARU (Bernama): More than 100 victims of the pollution in Pasir Gudang in March and June have lodged a police report here to urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on the incidents.
Among the victims who lodged the reports were residents of Taman Pasir Putih, Kota Masai and Tanjung Puteri Resort.
The police report was made through the Resident Action Body On Environment Pollution Issues of Taman Pasir Putih at the Seri Alam Police Station at 11.11am Sunday (July 14).
The body’s deputy chairman, Mohd Rafee Abdullah, 46, said that an investigation must be done because there was a possibility that the monitoring and enforcements conducted by the quarters concerned were imperfect resulting in pollutions taking place.
"We want the authorities concerned to conduct an investigation to determine if there are elements of corruptions, threats to the enforcement authorities or misconduct which caused these incidents," he told reporters here.
Meanwhile, Seri Alam district police chief Supt Ismail Dollah, when contacted, confirmed that a police report was lodged by the body on Sunday. - Bernama
Residents want action taken on illegal chemical factories
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 14 Jul 19;
PASIR GUDANG: A group of residents in Pasir Gudang have expressed their disappointment over the authorities’ lack of action in addressing the issue of illegal chemical factories in the area.
Badan Bertindak Penduduk Isu Pencemaran Alam (BBPIPA) said based on reports in the media and statements from the state government, there seemed to be a lack of enforcement and monitoring that had caused the Sungai Kim Kim incident to recur.
"We are puzzled why there are still illegal factories operating in Pasir Gudang, when they obviously are breaking the law.
"We want to know whether they are being 'protected'," said BBPIPA deputy chairman Mohd Rafee Abdullah.
BBPIPA represents 110 Pasir Gudang residents who were affected by the Sungai Kim Kim toxic dumping case in March, some of which were also affected by the recent air pollution incident.
Rafee said after Sungai Kim Kim, the group submitted a memorandum to the state government urging them to enhance enforcement on chemical factories to ensure the incident does not recur.
"However, there was no response from the state government, until a similar incident happened last month. We want the relevant authorities to investigate whether there are elements of corruption or threat to the enforcement agencies, or if there is misconduct that has caused the incident to recur," said Rafee.
He was speaking to the media at Bukit Layang-Layang here after lodging a police report on the matter at the Seri Alam police headquarters.
Rafee said a report on the matter will also be lodged with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission in Putrajaya at a later date.
He also questioned how the RM6.4 million allocated to handle the Sungai Kim Kim case was utilised.
"According to media reports, besides cleaning up operation in Sungai Kim Kim, the allocation was also supposed to be used to compensate affected residents. However, until now, we have yet to receive any compensation," Rafeesaid.
He hoped the authorities would release details on how the allocation was used to avoid any speculation that there were elements of misconduct involved.
Last week it was reported that the state government and the Johor Menteri Besar were among 11 named as defendants in a suit filed at the Johor Baru High Court by a group of Pasir Gudang residents who were affected by the Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste dumping.
Counsel Kamarudin Ahmad, who is representing the plaintiffs, said the group comprises 120 fishermen, six civilians and 34 students.
Johor govt hopes gas detectors will remain placed in high-risk Pasir Gudang schools
The Star 14 Jul 19;
JOHOR BARU (Bernama): The Johor government hopes that the gas detectors used to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will remain placed in high-risk schools in Pasir Gudang, says state Education, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan (pic).
He said the priority for the placement of the gas detectors loaned by the Environment Department (DOE) would be given to the 10 schools located near the industrial area to enable the teachers to monitor the current condition of the air.
"I hope this could be fulfilled by the DOE or with the help from the industries in Pasir Gudang for the safety of the children in school,” he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Bukit Dahlia here Sunday (July 14).
However, he did not name the 10 schools.
On the visit, he found that the air quality reading at the school had been at normal levels over the past week and the school session continued as usual at the ground floor of the school building.
In another development, Aminolhuda announced that a fund-raiser will be started to help Irfan Wafiy Idham Wazir, 12, who is suffering from myokymia, a nerve-related illness.
He said the fund-raiser would help to fund the cost of treatment for the Year Six pupil.
"After a meeting with his family and the Permas assemblyman, I will work on a special fund for Irfan Wafiy’s treatment.
"We hope members of the public and companies nearby could assist in providing treatment after he sits for his Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) exam this September,” he said.
He added that the costs and recommended treatment either locally or abroad as well as the form of assistance would be discussed later.
In the meantime, Irfan Wafiy's father, Idham Wazir A. Wahab, 49, expressed his gratitude on the setting up of the fund to assist with the treatment.
"I appreciate it, we do need assistance in terms of costs for the treatment, especially if it needs to be done overseas. Currently, I am bearing a lot of costs, for the treatment in Kuala Lumpur, traditional and alternative treatments and the supplements are all very specific not just the ordinary medications.
"The cost of treatment for myokymia seems high, I'm not sure (how much) but there is none in Malaysia. So far he only receives normal medications for seizures. But I limit the intake because I did not want it to affect his attention in school as it causes drowsiness,” he said. - Bernama
