Toxic emission - Gov't urged to declare emergency in Pasir Gudang

PARLIAMENT | There is mounting pressure on the government to declare a state of emergency in Pasir Gudang after a suspected chemical emission last week left more than 200 people seeking medical attention for poisoning.

In making the call, Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) also urged the Dewan Rakyat to debate the issue as an emergency motion today.

"I urge that we set aside the technical matters for now. This is a question of people's lives."

"I urge for this motion to be debated today," Hassan said during Minister's Question Time this morning.

A majority of those being treated are children and teachers.

Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) also urged the government to declare a toxic waste emergency in Pasir Gudang as ongoing measures to clean up the polluted Sungai Kim Kim is expected to take one week.

In response, Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said she has no power to unilaterally declare an emergency, but promised to forward the matter to the committee in charge.

At the end of Question Time this morning, Hassan moved to table an emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1) for the House to debate a call for the government to declare emergency status in Pasir Gudang.

He argued that the topic was specific, a matter of public interest, and should be urgently debated due to the gravity of the situation in Pasir Gudang.

Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ruled to accept Hassan's motion and set 4.30pm today for the House to debate the matter raised.

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