THE Johor government will allocate RM6.4 million to tackle the Sg Kim Kim chemical waste disaster.

The funds will be used to clean up the polluted river and aid those affected, said Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.

He told a press conference in Pasir Gudang that the state administration aims for clean-up works, which are ongoing, to be completed within a week.

“So far, we have one contractor for the clean-up process. We are looking to add two more by tonight at the soonest.”

Present at the presser were Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin and Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Yeo said the chemical compounds that have been identified include methane, hydrogen chloride, acrylonitrile, acrolein, benzene, toluene, xylene and limonene.

She said Petronas and the armed forces have been sought to provide equipment to take readings at the site, and the Meteorological Department will deploy equipment to gauge wind direction.

On the time frame for the clean-up works, Yeo said it depends on how quickly the toxicity levels can be brought down.

Osman, meanwhile, said the situation is not expected to worsen. – March 13, 2019.