PASIR GUDANG: The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) has denied claims that the chemical air pollution affecting the district is tied to the previous Sungai Kim Kim pollution.
Its deputy minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said the case was different from the Sungai Kim Kim incident as the two chemical compounds identified in the previous case, namely acrylonitrile and acrolein, were not detected this time.
"Moreover, all the waste taken previously from Sungai Kim Kim had been disposed off by incineration by the appointed contractor on April 8,” Isnaraissah told the media at the operations monitoring centre at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here on Monday.
Isnaraissah said following checks, the Department of Environment (DoE) was currently investigating 30 chemical factories which process the same chemical compound as the gas detected which led to the problems faced in Pasir Gudang since last Thursday.
"The DoE has narrowed down three chemical compounds which may have caused the problem. We will identify the exact compound within the next one or two days," she said.
Her statement, however, contradicted that of Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who earlier in Putrajaya had said the problem was due to the remnants of chemical substances which had previously polluted Sungai Kim Kim.
She said this was obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department, which was conducting investigations in the area.
Zuraida said the contractor previously tasked with cleaning up and removing the harmful substances from the river did not do a thorough job and as such, the substances, exposed to the elements such as wind and rain, began spreading.
Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said the state government would be issuing notices to the 30 factories which may have played a role in the issue.
“These factories were found to have used the three identified compounds. The DoE will focus its investigation on these factories and if any of them are found to have been responsible, action will be taken against them," he said, adding that the authorities would remove the offending compounds from these factories.
On Thursday, 15 students from SA Taman Mawar, Pasir Gudang, as well as the nearby SK Pasir Gudang 4, were hospitalised over suspected exposure to air pollution.
The incident worsened on Sunday when 20 students from another school - SMK Taman Nusa Damai - displayed symptoms of air pollution exposure and were rushed to hospital.
Today, 75 people were referred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital for treatment with four being warded for further treatment and are reported to be in astable condition.