THREE schools and two kindergartens in Pasir Gudang, Johor, will be closed for two days starting tomorrow as the authorities work to identify the source of toxic pollution in the area around Taman Mawar Religious School.

About 3,000 students and staff will be affected, Johor Youth Sports & Culture exco Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar.

He said the schools ordered to close were Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pasir Gudang 4, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pasir Gudang 2, Tadika Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) and Tadika Pintar Bistari.

Earlier, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had that more pupils from Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar in Pasir Gudang, Johor, were being treated for exposure to toxic fumes, bringing the number of people affected to 31.

He said they were referred to the Pasir Gudang Health Clinic yesterday and later admitted to Sultan Ismail Hospital.

“The pupils are being treated in the children’s ward and are in a stable condition.

“Six other pupils admitted earlier were discharged yesterday,” he said.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry said 29 pupils and staff from two schools in Pasir Gudang had been treated for exposure to toxic fumes, months after pollution in Sungai Kim Kim led to the closure of 111 schools, with 4,000 people falling ill.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the source of the contamination had yet to be identified.

A command and monitoring centre has been opened at Pasir Gudang Stadium to assess the situation. – June 22, 2019.