JOHOR Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal has come under attack for not meeting the victims of the pollution in Pasir Gudang and explaining the current situation to them.

The victims and the Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim want assurances from Sahruddin that the incidents won’t recur and want to know what has happened to the promised financial aid.

Hassan told The Malaysian Insight that it was the responsibility of the MB to come and assure the people that the area is now safe.

“The MB has a moral obligation to come and explain to the people the current situation.

“I challenge him (Sharuddin) to come here and meet the people. The people here are suffering and are demanding answers.”

In March, 6,000 people were exposed to chemical waste dumped into Sg Kim Kim.

The problem resurfaced last month, when more than 700 people, mostly pupils, were treated for respiratory problems believed to be caused by waste discharged by chemical factories in the area.

Hassan said if Shahrudin doesn’t want to meet the people, then he will debate with him on why he won’t meet the victims and address their concerns.

“The people here are very angry. Come and give them the assurance that the state government will do whatever to handle this issue.

“When in a crisis, the leader of the state must come and see what is happening for himself, not just give orders from his office.

“Former menteri besar Osman Sapian came here during the Sg Kim Kim crisis. Sahruddin should do the same.”

Taman Pasir Putih pro tem committee deputy chairman Rafee Abdullah said they are angry as they have yet to see or meet the MB.

“When he was exco (state Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman), he said he will come here during the Sg Kim Kim incident.

“But he didn’t come. It’s the same even after he became MB.

“We don’t want to see his representatives. We want to see him. If possible, we would like to see him tomorrow.

“We have also sent him a memorandum on our plight but we have yet to get a response,” said Rafee.

Pasir Putih resident Saloma Hassan shares the sentiment.

“We are the victims here. He is the new MB and an influential person.

“He should come and fufil his responsibility as an MB. He should meet us and give us an explanation. But, until today we haven’t met him,” Saloma said.

Hassan also wanted to know how the RM6.4 million allocation for the Sg Kim Kim incident was spent.

“We don’t know how the funds were used. They must explain what happened to it. How much was spent?

“The state and federal government must also give ex gratia payment to all victims.”

Last week, Taman Pasir Putih residents lodged a police report, urging the authorities to investigate how the RM6.4 million allocated to clean up Sg Kim Kim after the first toxic incident was utilised.

They are angry since they have yet to receive any aid from the state government.

Rafee said 110 victims affected by the toxic waste are still waiting for assistance. – July 26, 2019.