Chemical waste forces 38 Kota Tinggi villagers to evacuate

 

The residents being housed at the Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang community hall in Kota Tinggi, Johor. (Facebook pic)

KOTA TINGGI: 

Thirty-eight residents of Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan have been evacuated to a relief centre due to suspected chemical waste pollution in the village.

Panti assemblyman Hahasrin Hashim said all the villagers from the 11 affected families have been housed at the Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang community hall since last Thursday.

He said the villagers, including children and babies, suffered sore throats, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath and fever.

“The school in the area also reported a foul smell that caused discomfort among the students.

“The health clinic has confirmed that some children are suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, which are believed to be linked to the pollution.

“I took the initiative to relocate the affected residents, with the assistance of the district officer, to the community hall.

Monitoring has shown that the foul odour has not subsided,

 he said today.

Hahasrin said the Johor environment department had been informed of the incident for further action, including filing a police report.

“Residents reported that they managed to stop a tanker from dumping what they believe to be chemical waste into a river in the village.

“They also mentioned that this has occurred three times already.

“When the residents confronted the tanker driver, he said 16 tonnes of waste had already been discharged into the river.

I hope appropriate punishment will be imposed on the responsible parties or companies,

 he said. - FMT