Kg Jenjarom folk want battery factory relocated

KUALA LANGAT: Residents of Kampung Jenjarom here want to get rid of a battery manufacturing plant in their neighbourhood, which they have blamed for lead contamination.

Their grouses against the factory come on top of the illegal dumping of plastic waste in the area – located some 36km from Kuala Lumpur – that was widely reported by local and international media.

The factory, which has since been ordered closed by the authorities, is accused of having discharged a very high level of plumbum (lead) into the drainage system and waterways in the area.

This comes after hair samples from residents in the area showed high levels of lead after being tested.

One of them, Mohd Nazri Afrizal, said villagers could face long-term progressive health issues due to exposure to high levels of lead.

He said the factory’s foreign workers were also in danger as they live in a hostel in the plant’s compound.

“We managed to convince three workers to allow us to take them for a blood test. Two were found to have very high levels of plumbum in their blood,” he said.

Both non-governmental group Kuala Langat Environmental Action Association and residents had also sent hair samples of those working and living in the vicinity to be tested for plumbum exposure and contamination.

It was reported that some residents had readings of over 10mcg/g (micrograms of lead per gram) in their hair. (Mayo Clinic Laboratories set normal hair lead content below 5mcg/g.)

Nazri said there was a school and kindergarten not far from the factory.

“We were told that children face the biggest threat when exposed to high levels of lead,” he said.

Environmentalist and activist Dr Maketab Mohamed questioned why the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had allowed a factory using lead to operate without a safety and health officer for five years and under no health surveillance whatsoever.

DOSH, he said, must also be asked about the presence of a hostel within the factory compound.

“The Kuala Langat district council must also be questioned why it considered the lead acid battery factory a medium-sized industry as opposed to heavy industry,” said Dr Maketab.

Heavy industry factories require a 500m buffer zone.

During an interview by a local television station, the Selangor councillor in charge of environment, Hee Loy Sian, who visited the factory last week, had said the waterways were contaminated due to a crack in the factory’s underground tank which held the hazardous waste.

He also questioned the tests carried out on the hair of the workers and residents, saying that these were not accurate.

Lee said those who gave the hair samples would be identified and a blood test carried out by the Health Department to find out if they were indeed exposed to lead.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong lambasted the Pakatan Harapan state government for being “deaf and dumb” over the matter, instead of initiating drastic measures.

“What is really sad is that Hee, as the Selangor environmental exco, has disputed the results of the lab tests on the plumbum level found on the hair of the workers and residents, which were found to be high and can risk their health,” he said.