DPM: NO LINK TO SG KIM KIM CASE
Pasir Gudang air pollution has nothing to do with March incident
THE cabinet was briefed that the air pollution incident in Pasir Gudang is unconnected to the previous pollution of Sungai Kim Kim.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said this was the briefing provided by the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, which said that after investigating possible indicators, it had found no link between the two incidents.
She said the authorities had conducted tests on the victims’ urine and blood samples as part of the investigation.
She said National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) officers were in Pasir Gudang conducting investigations.
“The authorities will continue their investigations to identify the source of the problem by collecting more samples from rivers and the surroundings near the schools,” she said after a get-together with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry target groups and staff here yesterday.
Last week, more than 100 students from more than 30 schools in Pasir Gudang fell ill after allegedly being exposed to polluted air.
The students experienced nausea and dizziness and were rushed to hospital.
Learning institutions in Pasir Gudang were ordered to close for three days following the incident.
There were fears that the illnesses were linked to the toxic pollution of Sungai Kim Kim in March that affected more than 6,000 residents.
Meanwhile in Pasir Gudang, the authorities are having difficulty in pinpointing the exact cause of the air pollution as urine and blood tests from victims have turned out negative.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the samples failed to detect any substances that caused the symptoms in the victims.
“This is different from the Sungai Kim Kim case where we had physiological evidence of the presence of several substances, including traces of cyanide, which enabled us to identify the exact cause.
“This time around, the victims are showing the symptoms but the tests had turned out negative. So, it is difficult for us to pinpoint the exact cause,” she said at Menara Aqabah. Present was state Health, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar.
According to Yeo, as a precaution, the authorities had ordered the removal of all chemical substances that might have caused the air pollution, from factories in the area.
So far, 100 tonnes of chemical substances have been removed.
She said the government also plans to set up a permanent air pollutant monitoring station in Pasir Gudang, which would carry out continuous monitoring of air quality levels in the area.
“This is part of our efforts to be more proactive, as the station would be able to detect any pollutants in the air for immediate action.
“The details and design of the station will be discussed further. We hope to have it up and running as soon as possible.”
She said the government had proposed the creation of a Prediction of Chemical Dispersion system that would be the standard reference to ensure that all substances in Pasir Gudang were within the normal range.
“We will study the possibility of creating a buffer zone between the industrial and residential areas.”
Khuzzan said only six victims remained warded in hospital.
“Up to noon today (yesterday), there were no new admission. Schools will reopen on Sunday, depending on the result of the air quality reading.”