KG JENJAROM FOLK ALARMED BY POLLUTION
Deteriorating quality of water, land and air due to factory operations not safe for children, they claim
KAMPUNG Jenjarom resident Salmiah Parita is used to having her two grandchildren over at her home during the weekends, where they would spend quality time and catch up over family matters.
However, that changed over the last few months as the grandmother had advised them against coming home, due to pollution believed to have been caused by a
battery manufacturing factory in Jalan Sukepi in the Jenjarom Industrial Area.
“I miss having my grandchildren at my house but what can I do? I do not want them to be exposed to the pollution. The air is no longer clean here due to the lead fumes, and the soil has become more acidic. It is no longer safe for them to play around here any more.
“Instead of them coming over, I now make the more than one hour journey to their house in Puncak Alam. It is much better there,” said Salmiah, who was born and raised in Jenjarom.
She added that she was not only feeling the heartache of missing her grandchildren, but also had been experiencing poor health since the factory began its operations.
Salmiah, 63, said the land where the factory was located was vacant previously. The factory was built in 2011.
With her house less than 100m away from the factory, Salmiah said she was confident that it had complied with the rules and regulations.
“Since the water, land and air was polluted, my health has deteriorated. I have been suffering from prolonged cough, flu and fever. My throat is sore. Even my husband has been feeling unwell of late.
“The authorities must ensure the factory is closed and moved elsewhere. Our health is at great risk,” said Salmiah.
Echoing Salmiah was her neighbour, Dahlia Tahiri, 56, who is also concerned as she had been having coughing bouts lately.
“I am worried about the health and wellbeing of children who attend Tadika Hidayatul Ummi and SMK Jenjarom. Both schools are less than 300m from the factory.
“I have asked my grandchildren, aged 5 and 3, to refrain from playing near the drains and outside our home as the soil may be contaminated. I have also told them to stay indoors because of the polluted air,” she added.
Dahlia said the Selangor government should ensure the factory was shut down and not allowed to operate in other states too, as it posed a health hazard.
Salmiah and Dahlia were part of a 100-strong crowd who held a peaceful protest in front of the factory in Jalan Sukepi.
Led by village representative Nazri Afrizal, the villagers held up placards that read “Say No to Lead Poisoning” and “We are not Lab Rats”.
Nazri expressed his disappointment in not being allowed to meet Selangor Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian and factory representatives.
“I do not know why I was barred because all I wanted to do was share my views and the worries of some 6,000 kampung folk here.
“The law requires a buffer zone of 500m between a chemical factory and a residential area, but this was clearly not adhered to. The two schools are just 200m away. The factory should cease operations immediately as it had admitted in a dialogue recently to not having a proper drainage system in its premises.
“We do not want the younger generation to be affected. The health risks and side effects cannot be seen now. It takes time and we have to act fast,” he said.
Nazri handed a petition signed by more than 100 residents calling for the factory’s approval to be reviewed and its premises to be moved to a heavy industrial zone.
Kuala Langat Environmental Action Group member Pua Lay Peng said water samples taken from the drains in front of the factory showed its lead content was almost five times higher than the acceptable limit of 0.5 parts per million (PPM).
She urged the Department of Environment to immediately implement measures to prevent further contamination of groundwater.