Minister puzzled over claim pigeon droppings caused students' respiratory woes

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad today appeared puzzled over a Johor state executive councillor's claim that pigeon droppings could be the cause behind the respiratory ailments of SK Tanjung Puteri Resort students.

Asked to respond to the claim made by the state's Health and Culture Committee chairperson Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar, Dzulkefly said the ministry would stick to its own findings.

"The Johor exco member just gave his view. (But) let's go back to our findings without the need to comment on the rights of anyone to express their views.

"We hold firm to our analysis based on the lab findings, clinical signs and symptoms of patients.

"We are constantly monitoring and will update (the public) regularly," he told the media in Subang Jaya, Selangor, today.

Dzulkefly added the Health Ministry was also working with the Energy, Science, Technology, Climate Change and Environment Ministry to monitor the situation.

On July 23, Khuzzan (above) stated that the bird droppings had been affecting some of the school students for quite some time, due to the unpleasant odour from the droppings.

"This may also be among the factors (causing the students to experience shortness of breath and vomiting). So we request the Education Ministry to immediately address this," he had said.

Last month, up to 111 primary and secondary schools in Pasir Gudang were ordered to temporarily close, from June 25, after students began to experience respiratory problems and vomiting, believed to the caused by air pollution.

Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said the ministry has engaged another team of independent experts to conduct their own investigation into the incident.

"They will produce their own findings and we will compare that with ours," he said. - Mkini