11 schoolchildren in Pasir Gudang sent to sick bay

Schools in Pasir Gudang were ordered to close for several days last month. (Bernama pic)

JOHOR BAHRU: Eleven schoolchildren at four schools in Pasir Gudang were reported to have experienced headache, nausea and vomiting today.

They were taken to the sick bay in their schools to rest, said state executive councillor Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar. None of the children was sent for screening treatment at the Pasir Gudang and Masai health clinics as of 4pm.

The pupils were from the Kota Masai 2 primary school and Taman Nusa Damai, Tanjung Puteri Resort and Pasir Putih secondary schools. Previously, children from these schools were also affected by similar symptoms.

Khuzzan said no new patients had been warded at the hospital and, to date, the situation was still under control.

He added that the Department of Environment had conducted inspections at the 212 factories in Pasir Gudang and had issued 108 compound fine notices for waste offences, 10 for industrial effluence and one over sewage (septic tank).

Fifty-one directives, 11 stop-work orders and three court action proposals were also made out.

He also urged the public who saw or suspected any suspicious activities on the dumping of illegal toxic waste in their areas to quickly report to the department via a toll-free line 1800882727 or via eaduan.doe.gov.my.

‘JB woman died of chronic hypertension not pollution’

In Kuala Lumpur, the Health Ministry ruled out pollution as the cause of death of a woman who died in Johor Bahru on Friday.

She died from heart problems, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the woman had been suffering from chronic illnesses, especially hypertension (high blood pressure) for the past 10 years. She was admitted to Sultan Ismail Hospital on July 5 due to breathing difficulties, persistent coughing for three days apart from swelling in the legs and fever.

“Based on the clinical presentation, the symptoms and the results of the examination showed that she was suffering from heart failure due to chronic health issues,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported. - FMT