THE illegally dumped chemicals in Sg Kim Kim were not disposed of by the authorities as they were ruled no longer reactive, and the process would have been expensive.

That decision, however, has proven to be more costly.

Fire and Rescue Department Director-General Mohammad Hamdan Wahid was reported as saying today that toxic fumes may not have re-emerged had the chemical waste been immediately removed.

“It was not a good decision. By right, it should have been disposed of earlier,” he was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.

“Due to the current hot weather, the chemicals emitted hazardous fumes again, which then spread via wind and made more people sick.

“I was made to understand that the cost of disposing of the chemical waste is high, and so, it was not cleared and left just like that.”

He said the department could not have undertaken the task as the matter is beyond its purview, adding that it would have to be a multi-agency effort led by the Johor Disaster Management Committee.

The chemicals have been emitting toxic fumes, leading to the closure of 34 schools in Pasir Gudang and more than 500 people seeking medical attention as of today.

Earlier today, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said one of the three people arrested so far over the incident will be charged tomorrow.

“We hope to charge the suspect in court tomorrow. Upon conviction, the person can be sentenced to a maximum of five years’ jail and fined RM500,000 under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” she told reporters at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council. – March 13, 2019.