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Govt working on stiffer punishment following Pasir Gudang toxic fumes incident

KUALA LUMPUR: Stiffer punishment may be introduced as part of amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974, following the toxic fumes incident in Pasir Gudang.

Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis told the Dewan Rakyat today that measures were also in the pipeline to significantly reduce pollution.

"We are proposing to change (amend) the Act, and continuously strengthen overall enforcement to ensure pollution can be significantly reduced effectively," she said.

Isnaraissah was replying to a question from Larry S'ng (Julau-PH) on the government's plans to beef up existing laws to combat pollution by strengthening punishment under Section 34(b) of the act, which carries maximum RM500,000 fine and a jail up to five years.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin had earlier said her ministry had been in communication with the Attorney-General over efforts to increase punishment under the Act.

Some 3,000 people had been hospitalised in Pasir Gudang after inhaling toxic fumes emitted from chemical waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim on March 7.

The pollution forced the closure of 111 schools until the school break.

Police have since arrested nine individuals over the incident.

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