Cops hospitalised after inhaling chemicals allowed to go home

Four policemen who were hospitalised after inspecting 15 drums of chemicals at an oil palm plantation in Karak, Bentong, near here, have all been allowed to go home.

Pahang police chief Datuk Abd Jalil Hassan said two of them were allowed to leave on Sunday afternoon, while the other two were discharged yesterday.

“However, all of them are still on leave to make sure they are fully recovered before returning to work,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

Abdul Jalil said from the statements recorded by eight police personnel who were at the scene, they suffered a headache and nausea, shortly after being onsite, believed to have been due to inhaling the chemical vapours.

He said all the personnel had requested permission to leave the site following the arrival of the Department of Environment and Hazardous Materials Division of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.

“They also sought the permission of their superiors to be discharged from work earlier, but as a precaution, the superiors directed them to go to a health clinic, after which four of them were admitted to the Bentong Hospital,” he said.

Abd Jalil said the police were currently investigating the origin of the chemical believed to be sodium cyanide in solid form, which is commonly used in gold mining activities.

“We are looking at whether there are criminal elements involved, if the chemical was stolen from a nearby mine or elsewhere, to be sold to other miners nearby,” he said.

On Sunday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed that four policemen had been hospitalised, while four others had received outpatient treatment after they complained of feeling ill following the inspection at the scene. – Bernama