KOTA TINGGI: A lorry driver suspected of allegedly dumping chemical waste materials into Sungai Linggiu, here, was arrested yesterday.
Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon confirmed an arrest was made but did not elaborate.
The News Straits Times had contacted the district police chief for further information but he has yet to reply.
Ling said the arrest was made after 38 Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan villagers complained of a stench coming from the river.
This caused the villagers who are staying about a kilometre away from Sungai Linggiu to suffer from breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches.
They were eventually relocated to the Balai Raya Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang, and are currently still there.
Ling said the chemical pollution effecting residents in estates in Johor Baru, and the Sungai Linggiu case were not connected.
"The cause of the pollution and the chemical substance are different... investigations are ongoing," he said when contacted.
Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan Tok Batin Hamdan Yusoff claimed three men in a lorry dumped black liquid into the river on Sept 3.
Two days later the men were seen again, dumping some liquid into the same river.
When the villagers noticed the men at it again, they apprehended them and alerted the police.