JOHOR BARU: The Disaster Management Committee task force has been activated and mobilised today, in response to the chemical pollution in the state capital.
The task force, headed by Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman, will coordinate efforts with relevant agencies to take appropriate measures, including cleaning up illegally dumped chemical waste.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said Tiong Nam and Desa Tropika Industrial Parks had been identified as primary sites for the clean-up operations.
He added that police reports had been lodged by members of the task force committee.
Earlier, Johor Baru (south) police chief Assistant Commissioner confirmed that two men were arrested last night, on suspicion of being involved in the case.
Police arrested the two suspects — a lorry driver and his assistant — after they were allegedly caught red-handed disposing of black liquid, believed to be chemical waste, into Sungai Linggiu near Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan in Kota Tinggi.
Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi blew his top when he visited Sungai Tebrau and Sungai Skudai where the stench comes from.
For the past one week, residents in several areas in Johor Baru have complained of a chemical.
Several schools have been temporarily closed due to the pollution.
Residents have raised concerns of a recurrence of the Sungai Kim Kim chemical pollution in Pasir Gudang in 2019.
On March 13, 2019, more than 2,000 residents suffered dizziness, with 947 residents admitted to hospital and nine in the intensive care unit.
Some 111 schools were ordered to close following the discovery of toxic waste dumped into the river.
The culprits allegedly responsible for illegally dumping toxic chemical waste into the river, were identified.
The court case is still ongoing.