GEORGE TOWN: Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have thrown their weight behind a suggestion for the temporary closure of factories which are suspected of being responsible for the latest health scare in the district.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), commenting on the call by Pasir Gudang member of parliament Hassan Karim, said it was clear that the health scare in the district was due to chemicals in the air, with at least some of them already detected.
"Although the exact source of the air pollution, meaning which particular factories, have yet to be determined, it is highly probable that the pollution must be coming from the chemical factories.
"We agree with Hassan that the onus is on the factory operators to show that they are not responsible for the environmental problems in the area.
"It is indeed unacceptable that students, including young children and teachers, have to suffer the continued pollution while waiting for the authorities to find the actual source of the problem.
"Parents and teachers of the schools must be living in fear and anxiety and it is most unfair to subject them to such mental torture, suffering and to endanger their health," they said in a statement.
Under Regulation 24 of the Clean Air Regulations 2014, the director-general of the Department of Environment (DoE) has the power to order the closure of any premises from further operations until remedial measures are put in place, in the event of an ‘undesirable occurrence,’ which includes pollution that seriously threatens the environment, or public health and safety that warrants an immediate halt.
According to CAP and SAM, the purpose of the provision is to safeguard public health, safety and welfare.
"Given the significant number of victims impacted by the pollution, it is urgent for the director-general of Environment to act accordingly," they added.
Moreover, they claimed, the frequent closure of schools would affect the performance of the students in their studies.
"The public have suffered enough. It is time for some drastic action.
"We call on the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister and the DoE director-general to act urgently and close the chemical factories temporarily, until remedial measures are in place and ease the anxiety and suffering of the public.
"We must put public health and safety ahead of the profits of companies who endanger the environment and public health," they said.
Based on reports, there are 250 chemical factories and 111 primary and secondary schools in the Pasir Gudang area.
It was reported that three pupils, aged between 10 and 12, had been warded from 273 who had fallen sick following a second wave of pollution detected just hours after school started on Sunday.