Residents living in the vicinity of where an explosion occurred at Bukit Selambau, Kedah, on Sunday, have demanded authorities take action on illegal factories allegedly involved in the mishap.
This came after the Kedah Environment Department (DOE) said two of the premises had never received any operational approval from the DOE.
The third had obtained an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval in 2020 but did not submit a licence application to operate.
A resident known only as Fong said it is no surprise to locals that some of the factories involved in the fire are believed to be operating illegally.
"It's expected that they have no licence. I don't think they can get licence and approval from the authority and that's why they have to do it quietly," he told Malaysiakini, adding that he believed there were many such factories there.
Health fears
He called for a thorough investigation and a firm crackdown as residents feared for the health of their families.
An investigation was needed especially if the government was serious about environmental social governance policies, he added.
"It has been many years since my son started having a runny nose every time there is a bad burning smell in the air, which usually happens at night.
"Even with all the doors and windows closed, the gas still finds its way into your home, somehow. When we leave the Sungai Petani area, my son's health improves," he added.
Fong said that he belonged to a group of concerned residents who had lodged many complaints in the past with the DOE, but the conditions persisted.
Are there contaminants?
Last night, Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said DOE officers have still not been allowed to enter the fire site to take samples as the fire has not been fully extinguished, and the situation is not yet safe.
"However, Kedah DOE has initiated an investigation, and a statement from the landowner has been taken.
“Preliminary information obtained from the landowner indicates that the involved lots have been leased to three different premises," she said.
She added that two of the premises were suspected of conducting scrap metal separation and the separated metal was believed to be sent to the third premises for melting activities.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini spoke to Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari who declined to speculate if contaminants were released in the incident.
However, he said that if contamination was detected, the DOE could investigate and conduct cleaning works according to procedures.
Taufiq also said that the blaze was not related to fireworks, as first suspected.
Three warehouses were destroyed in the blaze which started at close to 8pm on Sunday and raged for two hours before being brought under control.
However, the process of fully extinguishing the fire has continued for more than a day.
Fong warned that the cost and effect of such an incident were long-term.
"Chemicals and particulates from the burning eventually go into our food chain and water supply. Smoke and gasses travel by the wind,” he pointed out. - Mkini
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