Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin has dismissed claims that the cancer rate in Sungai Lembu, which came into the limelight over the illegal carbon filtering company controversy recently, is higher than the national average.

Afif, who is in charge of the state health portfolio, cited a 2015 report from the state health department saying there was no correlation between the cancer patients and the factory.  

According to the report, none of the cancer patients from Sungai Lembu worked at the factory, nor was the premises situated on the route used by the villagers, said Afif. 

“The health department stated very clearly that it cannot be ascertained that the factory contributed to the cancer risk.

“Doesn’t the BN propaganda team trust its own government doctors?” Afif told Malaysiakini when contacted.

"The BN’s propaganda team assertion that the cancer rate in Sungai Lembu is higher than the national average is simply not true. We just don’t do medical calculation like that," added the PKR Seberang Jaya assemblyman.

BN had slammed the Penang government for not acting against the illegal factory, citing reports that claimed 11 out of 500 people in the village had cancer.

This showed that the cancer incidence rate of 2,200 victims in 100,000 were 2,342 percent higher than the national average, alleged BN.

The factory, which has operated since 2002, was raided by the MACC on April 10.

The following day, state executive councillor on environment, welfare and caring society, Phee Boon Poh and two of the factory owners were arrested and remanded for three days.

Phee was arrested for issuing letters to the local council to halt action against the factory based on a state policy to legitimise illegal businesses, premises and places of worship. He also denied benefiting from the factory, saying that there is an “evil conspiracy” to tarnish his reputation.

Meanwhile, Afif also cited details from the report that said the district health office had received a list of 12 cancer patients from the village.

The report further noted that most of the patients were aged above 50, making them vulnerable to types of cancer that occurs with age, said Afif.