ONLY half of the year has passed, yet there has been two mini Chernobyls (a 1986 nuclear accident in Ukraine) in Pasir Gudang, Johor.
The first wave in March was more dramatic, with images of kids having breathing difficulties at their school and the hashtag #Pray4PG flooding social media.
The second wave last month was more sudden.
That leads to some questions: is this going to be routine for us in Pasir Gudang?
Are we going to have to be prepared for a toxic time bomb to explode soon?
Do we have to get used to this situation?
The public was told that the situation in Sungai Kim Kim was safe and under control by the authorities, yet, three months later, we had yo face it again.
It is as if we were given just enough time to enjoy Ramadan and Syawal, and right before the festive month ends, the toxic time bomb exploded.
Educational institutions have been the most affected in this tragedy.
While the physical effects are more visible among students, others have been affected in other aspects.
Closing the institutions does not mean giving holidays to students.
It involves postponing crucial operations, like final examinations. New dates need to be set and it is not easy as it has to go through tedious procedures to ensure the confidentiality and quality of exam papers.
All these need to be done in a short period and can be challenging for those responsible.
There is also a domino effect and chain reaction for those affected.
Postponed exams mean changes to balik kampung plans for students and buying new bus or flight tickets. These involve financial matters, which can be a burden for many.
Some institutions need to evacuate and hold examinations at other locations, such as at neighbouring institutions.
Logistics and transportation, as well as students’ safety, need to be considered. And everything needs to be done quickly and carefully.
While putting the contingency plans into action, there are many risks that need to be taken into consideration by institutions. It leaves little room for mistakes.
The point is, the public needs to know the truth about the situation.
And we need an assurance that Pasir Gudang is safe, that there’s no sweeping the truth under the rug because it will surface, pretty much like the toxic waste in Sungai Kim Kim.
While the authorities need to avoid panic among the public, it is not fair to give false hope to residents.
Nevertheless, we appreciate the parties and agencies for their work in handling the situation.
At the very least, residents have been updated about the situation and we can sleep knowing things are under control, at least for now.
Let’s make Pasir Gudang safe again.
Siti Mariam Mohammad Iliyas
Lecturer, UiTM Johor, Pasir Gudang campus