MCA leader slams 'incompetence' in tackling Pasir Gudang pollution
MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon has lambasted the authorities' reaction to the Pasir Gudang pollution situation, claiming that incompetent preventive measures led to an escalation of hazard levels.
"Today marks the sixth day since toxic fumes first began plaguing Pasir Gudang, and two days ago, another (approximately) 20 students from SMK Nusa Damai started suffering from breathing difficulties and vomiting...
MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon has lambasted the authorities' reaction to the Pasir Gudang pollution situation, claiming that incompetent preventive measures led to an escalation of hazard levels.
"Today marks the sixth day since toxic fumes first began plaguing Pasir Gudang, and two days ago, another (approximately) 20 students from SMK Nusa Damai started suffering from breathing difficulties and vomiting.
"Yet, local authorities remain in the dark over the cause of the air pollution, in addition to their inability to provide adequate guidelines on self-preservation and prevention for the residents," he said in a statement last night.
Mah, a trained cardiologist, took issue with the state government's slow reaction time.
"It took the Johor government three whole days, before arriving at the decision to order five schools to close for two days.
"As soon as state exco Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar announced on June 22 that no new cases were detected, immediately on the next day, 20 new cases of SMK Nusa Damai erupted.
"Clearly, efforts that went into investigative and preventive work left much to be desired," he said.
Mah claimed that the emergence of these new cases indicated that hazard levels have escalated.
He also asked why officials on the field in Pasir Gudang were clad in hazardous materials (hazmat) suits, if locals were not provided any protective gear.
"The officials were clad in hazmat suits, confirming the severity of the hazard. Are all locals under health risks after being exposed 24 hours without protective equipment?"
"If the locals are indeed exposed to hazards, why have the authorities not provided any preventive and protective means to them, or as a crisis management measure, evacuated them?
"Why do the officials need hazmat suits when the common layperson does not?" he asked.
Mah reminded the authorities it was a mere three months ago when the Sungai Kim Kim contamination incident occurred.
Pasir Gudang experienced a pollution crisis in March following the discharge of chemicals into Sungai Kim Kim, with thousands seeking treatment for exposure to toxic fumes.
"Now we have a very similar airborne contamination happening in the same area.
"This speaks volumes about how ineffectual the federal and state governments are with pollution prevention and crisis management — putting the health and lives of people under their administration under constant threat," he said.
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