PASIR GUDANG: Three schools and two kindergartens have been ordered to close for two days beginning tomorrow to allow for investigations in the area around Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar, near here.
The investigation is to uncover the source of an alleged air pollution incident.
State Health, Culture and Heritage committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar said the closure involved some 3,000 students and staff members of Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Gudang 4, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasir Gudang 2, PASTI kindergarten and Pintar Bistari kindergarten, near here.
He said as of noon today, two students aged 11 from Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar were still receiving treatment at the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru.
No new patients were referred to the hospital, he added.
"Checks on air quality are done every six hours and we have found the air quality reading to be normal, but observation will continue as needed until Monday.
"Until now, the Department of Environment (DoE) together with other agencies involved are conducting investigations to determine the source of the air pollution detected at Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Gudang 4.
"The air quality observation team comprises the Chemical Department, Fire and Rescue Department, DoE, the Health Ministry, the Meteorology Department and the Pasir Gudang Emergency Mutual Aid (PAGEMA), covering a radius of 1.1 kilometre," he said at a press conference, here, today.
Also present were state housing, communications and multimedia committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad and state local government, urban well-being and environment committee chairman Tan Chen Choon.
Mohd Khuzzan said until now, no more calls were received by the Johor Fire and Rescue Department on the incident.
He said members of the public are advised to obtain verified information on what happened.
"For inquiries and verification of information, please call the Pasir Gudang Fire and Rescue station at 07-2513444 or the Johor Fire and Rescue Department's operation's centre at 07-3409999."