NO arrests have been made by the police over the dumping of chemical waste in Sg Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, said Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Fuzi said the police have not issued any statements claiming to have made any arrests, adding that a total of 51 police reports have been lodged so far.

“We did not say it. There were other parties that mentioned that, but the police do not have any arrests,” he told reporters at the Central Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur today.

Earlier reports said that three men, including two factory owners, were arrested on suspicion of dumping the chemical waste into Sg Kim Kim. 

One of the suspects is the owner of a chemical-processing plant, and another owns a used goods-processing factory. Both are in their 50s.

The third suspect is a worker in his 40s.

Johor Environment Department director Mohammad Ezzani Mat Salleh said the first suspect was arrested Sunday evening, and the other two on Monday. 

Yesterday, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said one of three suspects is to be charged in court as early as today. 

She said the completed investigation papers have been sent to the office of the deputy public prosecutor for evaluation and consideration.

Fuzi said he met the Johor police chief, who confirmed that 51 police reports have been lodged over the matter and the investigation has been intensified. 

He also said he was not informed of the exact company involved in the matter, but the police is trying to identify those involved, with cooperation from the relevant government agencies. 

“I was not informed of the total number of those that have given statements, but we are intensifying the investigations. (The chemicals) also are yet to be verified,” he added.  – March 15, 2019.