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.

"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 suspected chemical leak 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.

[More to follow] - Mkini