JOHOR BARU: The government will review existing guidelines of licence applications from factories which handle hazardous chemical substances.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry will bring the matter before the Cabinet for a decision.
She said such a review was necessary to prevent the recurrence of Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste pollution.
Some 3,000 people had been hospitalised in Pasir Gudang after inhaling toxic fumes emitted from chemical waste dumped into the river on March 7.
The pollution forced the closure of 111 schools until the school break. Police have since arrested 11 individuals over the incident.
"The ministry will have a meeting with local councils and the Department of Environment (DoE) to improve the operation and monitoring of factories that use and dispose off chemical wastes.
"It (bringing the outcome to the Cabinet level) will be the next step and it is something that we will make a decision on and set up guidelines," said Zuraida.
She was speaking to reporters after visiting the medic base at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) Indoor Stadium here.
Also present were Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid and Johor JBPM director Datuk Yahaya Madis.
Meanwhile, Zuraida said MPPG and DoE had been instructed to inspect and monitor all 250 factories that use chemical substances in the Pasir Gudang area to prevent the recurrence of the pollution incident.
"The operational effectiveness of the machines and equipment used by these factories need to be monitored because there may be a period when the machines and equipment may not operate properly and or there may be a leak that could cause the waste to be discharged to the rivers," said Zuraida.
She said the Sungai Kim Kim operation which began on March 7, saw a total of 153 Fire and Rescue Department personnel, including 70 members from the Hazardous Material Unit (Hazmat) nationwide, involved in operations.