Sungai Petani residents up in arms over air pollution

At least 20 spots, mostly residential areas in Sungai Petani, Kedah are affected by bad air pollution due to factories involved in plastic waste, claimed DAP's former Berapit assemblyperson Lydia Ong Kok Fooi.

She said residents from the affected areas cannot tolerate the air pollution anymore, and have approached her to help resolve the matter.

Ong claimed that there are more than 100 illegal imported waste recycle factories in Sungai Petani contributing to the environmental problem.

"We have met the Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul and handed him a memorandum, to urge him to raise the matter in Parliament.

"We asked him to speak up for the people in this coming Parliament seating from July 1 to 18. He forgot to raise the issue in the last proceeding in March.

"The matter is serious, but when I handed him the memorandum and tried to talk to him about the matter, Johari (below) kept telling me not to burn down the factory anymore," stressed the former Penang executive councillor.

Ong had lodged a police report on behalf of the residents in Sungai Petani, urging the police to probe the case.

According to her report, Kedah executive councillor Simon Ooi had said that over 30 illegal factories have been sealed by the Sungai Petani Municipal Council pending action.

However, Ong claimed that most of the factories were still operating, and continues to pollute the air with toxic smoke and foul smell.

"Since the air condition is worsening by the day, many residents have fallen sick, especially children, who suffer cough and fever. Those who have asthma have become worse, and others suffer skin allergies," she lamented.

Malaysiakini has contacted Ooi, who is also the Bakar Arang assemblyperson, and oversees the environment, Chinese and Siamese affairs community, and human resources.  - Mkini