NEW JOHOR CRISIS – THE RESULT OF UMNO-BN’S CORRUPT LICENSING SYSTEM? AMID SCHOOLS SHUTDOWN, MB PROMISES CAUSE OF PASIR GUDANG POLLUTION ‘TO BE KNOWN IN 2 DAYS’

JOHOR BAHRU: The cause of the air pollution in Pasir Gudang, which resulted in breathing difficulties and vomiting among residents particularly students, will be known in two days, says Johor Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

More than 130 schools and 347 kindergartens are to be closed from tomorrow until Thursday because of the air pollution.

Sahruddin said the relevant agency was in the final stage of establishing which chemical was the cause of the health problems.

The result would be announced by the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change ministry or the Chemistry Department, he told reporters today.

Sahruddin said 30 chemical factories in Pasir Gudang were being investigated if there was any chemical discharge related to the latest pollution incident. There are 265 factories in the district.

“The Environment Department will investigate and if the chemical is similar to that which had caused the breathing difficulties and vomiting in the students, we will order the factories to cease operations,” he said.

The menteri besar said the state government had proposed that all educational institutions in Pasir Gudang be closed until Thursday as a precautionary measure.

As of yesterday, 16 schools, one polytechnic and 69 kindergartens under the education ministry had been ordered to close.

FMT

All schools in Pasir Gudang district ordered to close for three days (updated)

JOHOR BARU: All educational institutions in Pasir Gudang district have been ordered to close for three days following chemical pollution in the area.

There are 475 education institutions in Pasir Gudang registered with the state Education Department, comprising 111 primary and secondary schools, three higher education institutions, 14 private and international schools and 347 private kindergartens.

In a statement, state Education Department director Azman Adnan said these would be closed for three days from Tuesday to Thursday (June 25-27) to allow authorities to work on clearing the pollution.

“All principles and headmasters have been told to inform their students, teachers, parents and staff about the closure.

“The department will continue to monitor and help schools to ensure the students well-being,” he said.
To date, more than 100 students from more than 30 schools have been affected due to the air pollution, which surfaced on Thursday (June 20).

This is the second time in three months that authorities have ordered all schools in the district to be close down due to pollution.

In March, all 111 schools were also ordered to close following toxic fumes coming from Sungai Kim Kim.

– ANN