Listed company’s cement plant giving schoolkids eczema, boils, say parents

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 – A group of parents today demanded a cement plant to stop operations near the Kuen Cheng (2) primary school and move out, saying that the cement dust is giving their children coughs, eczema and boils.

The cement batching plant owned by public listed Tasek Corporation Berhad (TCB) wants to continue operations, despite the plant’s development order having expired, said the ‘Caring Parents’ group.

The group says TCB is trying to appeal to stay on until December, despite Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) having served eviction notices twice.

“What right has the company to stay on? How can profit come before the children?” said spokesman Cindy Choo, showing reporters a letter from TCB to the school, where the company asked for a “no objection letter” in order to extend the operation period.

“If you look at the letter, all it talks about is TCB’s business interests, it doesn’t talk about us,” she added.

“How can a public listed company be so irresponsible? They are going against their own corporate governance and policies,” she said, pointing to TCB’s website where the company said it tries to “systematically address its responsibility for safety, health and environment.”

After being alerted by the parents, DBKL had evicted the plant on April 23, but the plant continued operating on April 25.

A second eviction was carried out on May 4, with DBKL removing everything except six silos.

TCB promised to move the “expensive” and “technically-challenging to dismantle” silos within a week, but nothing has been done since then.

“TCB has no intention to move,” said Choo, describing the promise as a “stalling” tactic. “They have been maneouvering ways to stay on. Now they are asking to stay until December.”

“The plant does not have a valid operating permit. If I didn’t hear wrongly from DBKL, the plant’s development order expired two years ago,” said Cindy.

“The fine cement dust is dangerous as it penetrates straight into the lungs and skin,” said Choo, adding the wind carries it to the school which is only about 300 metres away from the cement plant.

Parents have been complaining that their children cough when they go to school, but “over weekends, the cough stops”.

Children had also been coming home with blackened uniform caused by soot, and eczemas or boils on their elbows and knees.

“The cement dust also flies into the canteen food. So the children are not just inhaling dust, they are also consuming dust. This is food poisoning,” said one of the parents, Lee Quat Seong.

Other parents complained of their children having sinus or eye irritation, some of the common symptoms linked to exposure to cement dust.

The crowd of 20 parents occasionally launched into choruses of ‘yes’ when some of them voiced out their concerns.

Chiew Lian Keng, a senator from MCA, told the press conference the matter will be brought to Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and federal territories minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Yesterday, over 150 signatures were collected in support of the Caring Parents’ cause.

TCB is a listed company in Malaysia and a subsidiary of Hong Leong Asia Ltd, a company listed in Singapore.