RESIDENTS living near Sg Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, Johor, said they are still worried about their health, despite the river being declared clean and safe almost two weeks after chemical waste was illegally dumped there.

They also asked why only a 1.5km stretch of the river was cleaned up, which began on March 13 and ended on March 17. It was declared toxic-free on Tuesday. 

Mohd Raffee Abdullah, deputy chairman of the residents’ action committee, said while they are thankful to the government for the clean-up operation, they felt it was insufficient.

“What about after the 1.5km stretch? The toxic waste polluted the entire river,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“The air pollution index is zero but the odour is still around. We are also worried about the long-term effects of the pollution.”

Raffee said the hardest-hit village was Taman Pasir Putih, which was the closest to Sg Kim Kim but was not involved in the recent clean-up operation.

The 45-year-old added that residents are now exercising vigilance to ensure such dumping does not occur again and hope the authorities will continue monitoring the area.

“Don’t just tell us that the place is safe and that it won’t happen again. The authorities must monitor the area and take action continuously.

“They have to ensure that such dumping does not recur as we don’t want to relive this tragedy,” Raffee said.

The residents’ action committee, formed on March 11, submitted a memorandum to the Johor government urging for better protection against chemical pollution.

Raffee’s seven-year-old son was among the first victims of the pollution and fell ill on March 7.

The incident affected about 4,000 families in Pasir Gudang. Almost 1,000 people were admitted to hospitals while 12 were treated in intensive care units.

The government had also ordered all 111 schools in the area to be closed and they will remain shut until after the school holidays, which ends next week.

Despite calls by numerous groups to declare a state of emergency, the government stood firm against the decision and declared the place clean and safe on Tuesday.

During the period, many residents left their homes to stay with family and friends elsewhere, said a resident.

Muhammad Fauzi Rohani, 54, said many parents also discarded uniforms worn by their children for fear of contamination.

He added that residents are also facing financial difficulties as a result of the incident and want government assistance.

“Those who can afford it have no issues but there are also parents with three or four children in school… it is difficult for them,” said Fauzi, who lives in Taman Pasir Putih.

Meanwhile, an SMK Taman Pasir Putih teacher said they will have to clean up the school and equipment before the pupils return.

“Tables, chairs and curtains have to be disinfected. The government’s safety assurance is for air quality, not for things in the school,” said the teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

After declaring Sg Kim Kim safe, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said monitoring will be carried out for the next 15 days.

Some 900 tonnes of contaminated soil and 1,500 tonnes of polluted water have been collected and transported in stages.

The clean-up operation cost approximately RM6.5 million, with the overall cost set to exceed RM10 million, Yeo added. – March 22, 2019.