HOMES within a 5km radius from Sg Kim Kim have become an illegal dumping ground for chemical and construction waste, reports The Star.

The daily said it found solid waste from construction sites discarded about 50m away from the river in Kg Pasir Putih. 

Among its discovery were items bearing the name of a major chemical company.

The authorities are combing through the area around Sg Kim Kim to look for more sites, as it is understood that there are more than a dozen such sites discovered so far.

Kg Pasir Putih residents accuse villagers nearby of working in cahoots with syndicates that bring in chemical waste from a nearby industrial area for disposal.

Houses are also used as dump sites for chemical or construction waste, whereby lorry-loads of solid waste are dumped into these buildings and the owners paid based on the load.

A local named Mat was quoted as saying that many villagers are not aware that the chemicals are harmful and they are now facing the repercussions. 

On March 7, the authorities detected toxic waste dumped into Sg Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang. Fumes from the chemicals have affected the health of more than 1,000 people, mostly pupils of schools situated along the river.

Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the clean-up works of a 1.5km stretch of the river have been completed. – March 18, 2019.