THE team cleaning up the chemical pollution in Sg Kim Kim has just two days to ensure it is completed, said Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

This is because rain is forecast for Tuesday, which could impede the clean-up efforts and worsen the pollution.

Yeo said the process was running smoothly.

“We hope that two days – today and tomorrow – will be the maximum we need to clean it up. If there’s no rain, (if) the weather is good, we can do it.

“Work to clean up Sg Kim Kim went well yesterday. It’s a good development. Swift operation. We cleaned up 1km of the river,” she said after visiting the medic base at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council stadium in Johor Baru today.

Meanwhile, Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Yahaya Madis said at a press conference that heavy rain could make the situation more hazardous as the pollution would spread to a wider area.

“I was told that the clean-up work will be expedited over the next two days following forecast of heavy rain by the Meteorological Department,” he said.

The air quality index in the area has stayed below 3ppm (particle per million), which is the alert level.

“Should it exceed this level, we will discuss it with the operations commander, who is the state police chief, and take it to the state disaster management committee for further action,” he said.

About 100 people, including safety officers and members, Department of Environment staff, contractors as well as other agencies are involved in the clean-up operation. – Bernama, March 16, 2019.