PUTRAJAYA is already treating the chemical waste dumping disaster at Sg Kim Kim in Johor as an emergency even without an emergency declared, said Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said if an incident could not be resolved at the district level, it would go to the state.

But at this point, he said, the Johor government could still handle the incident and had not referred the matter to the federal government.

“We are at a stage where Putrajaya does not think there is a need to declare an emergency yet, while the state government has not requested for such a declaration to be made.

“But we are not running from the issue. We are working as if an emergency has been declared,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon when debating a motion to declare a state of emergency at the affected area.

The illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into Sg Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang more than a week ago has affected the health of hundreds of people, namely students in schools along the river. 

The chemicals had emitted toxic fumes that made people, including many school children, sick.

Hanipa said federal authorities such as police, the Fire and Rescue Department and its Hazmat unit, army, environmental department, drainage and irrigation department and other agencies had been sent to the scene.

He also said the federal government will assist the state government in terms of cost, setting aside RM8 million for the river clean-up.

“As we speak now, help is being channelled to the state,” he said.

Hanipa also urged MPs not to politicise the issue, singling out PAS reps by asking them not to spread allegations.

“There were claims that some had died of the incident when no deaths had been reported. So please (stop),” he said.

There were some brief protests from the opposition MPs over Hanipa’s remarks, but Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof cut off everyone at 5.35pm by declaring the adjournment of today’s Parliament sitting until next Monday morning.

There was no decision made on the motion. 

Earlier in the debate, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said the army has sent personnel to help tackle the disaster since last Thursday after the incident happened.

He said the army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear team, which is equipped with chemical detectors, sampling equipment, protective suits, masks and breathing apparatus, had reported to the National Disaster Management Agency’s control centre at the scene.

The army also sent a Casualty Evacuation Unit with medical officers and paramedics to the scene.

“They are at the location to help with the clean-up efforts. We do take the incident seriously.

“The army is ready, with or without an emergency declared. Other assistance will be provided from time to time depending on the needs of the operations,” he said.

All army personnel involved in the operations are stationed at the Territorial Army Regiment camp in Tebrau.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Maszlee Malik said his ministry, via the Johor education department, had also been acting based on the advice of the relevant authorities in its response to the incident.

The pollution at Sg Kim Kim has caused 111 schools and three higher learning institutions – a polytechnic, a community college and a Universiti Teknologi MARA branch – in Pasir Gudang to be ordered to closed.

He said the ministry had been proactive since the first day of the incident to make sure everyone at nearby schools was safe.

“Their safety and health have been our priority. We have gone to the hospital to check on the victims. 

“The education department is also monitoring the welfare of students who had become sick and needed treatment,” he said.

Maszlee said that as of this morning, 336 school children had needed hospital treatment.

He said students who fell ill would be given aid with the cooperation of parents and all other related parties.

He also said they were covered by takaful insurance and the ministry would assist them in filing claims to the nearest takaful branches.

“They are guaranteed of compensation,” he said. – March 14, 2019.