JOHOR BARU: Two more rivers in Pasir Gudang have been found to have been used as dump sites for chemical waste.
In the first case, about 10 plastic barrels, believed to contain chemical substances, were found in Sungai Masai next to the Pasir Gudang Highway.
The discovery was made by residents of nearby housing estates on Sunday after the authorities came to the location to start cleaning works.
Pasir Gudang MCA chief Tan Tuan Peng said residents wanted to know why they were not informed of the existence of another source of pollution which could contribute to the current crisis.
“The public have the right to know. The authorities should not cover up these things,” he said.
Another dump site was found in Sungai Sembilang near Taman Tanjung Puteri Resort.
Seven barrels were found dumped in the river, which is about 500m from SMK Tanjung Puteri Resort.
The barrels were found dumped in a drain and under a bridge connecting Taman Tanjung Puteri and Taman Pasir Putih.
Ahmad Roh Ariffin, 51, who lives in the area, said the barrels were found on Thursday but no action was taken after the authorities were informed of the discovery.
“Liquid from the barrels have already flowed into the river and have resulted in a bad stench,” he said.
“We are very concerned because the smell is very bad.
“Some residents have complained of breathing difficulties and nausea,” he said
A check at the site showed that the authorities have put up yellow tape around the dump site.
Efforts to get comments from the authorities have proved unsuccessful and a press conference by Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin was cancelled at the last minute.