Emergency won't be declared for Pasir Gudang over toxic crisis
PARLIAMENT | While a state of emergency will not be declared for Pasir Gudang, Johor, the government has assured that the toxic waste pollution situation there has been treated with the utmost urgency.
De facto Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin said the federal government has allocated RM8 million for immediate efforts to clean up the contaminated Sungai Kim Kim.
PARLIAMENT | While a state of emergency will not be declared for Pasir Gudang, Johor, the government has assured that the toxic waste pollution situation there has been treated with the utmost urgency.
De facto Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin said the federal government has allocated RM8 million for immediate efforts to clean up the contaminated Sungai Kim Kim.
"Up to now, the state government is still able to handle the situation," he said during the debate on an emergency motion by Hassan Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) to declare a state of emergency for Pasir Gudang.
This after a chemical release from toxic waster dump last week resulted in more than 1,000 people seeking medical attention for poisoning.
"However, at the federal level, although we find there is no need to declare a state of emergency, we have carried out efforts akin to an emergency situation," said Hanipa.
He explained that in order for the federal government to declare a state of emergency for disasters, a formal request must first be made by the Johor state government.
Hanipa further cautioned all parties against triggering panic among the people by spreading unverified rumours including on the purported death of a student from Pasir Gudang.
Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis earlier told the House the ministry has mobilised resources from other states to check all the 254 chemical factories within the Pasir Gudang area in three days.
She said 29 investigators in six teams from the Johor Department of Environment (DOE) are currently on duty with the back-up from other states.
"At this time, 13 teams with 40 investigating officers from different states are assisting investigations since this morning.
“Police have also set up roadblocks in the area to stop the movements of illegal wastes," she said, adding that water sampling tests are also being conducted at three illegal disposal sites at both ends of Sungai Kim Kim.
Aside from government agencies, she said companies including Petronas had offered their expertise to handle the crisis.
She said Petronas had sent an air dispersal modeller used to understand vapourisation and the movement of gasses for more effective planning of mitigation efforts.
Other ministers who took part in the debate included Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, Education Minister Maszlee Malik, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub.
Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian) debated for the opposition.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof, who presided over the one- hour debate, adjourned the day's sitting without calling for a vote on the emergency motion.
As he stood up to leave, he responded to questions from several MPs saying there was no need for a vote to be called on the emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1).
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