Sg Kim Kim free of toxic pollution

It’s safe: Yeo showing the Sg Kim Kim’s water quality reading on a multi-gas detector. — Bernama

Reports by NELSON BENJAMIN, MOHD FARHAAN SHAH, REMAR NORDIN and AUSTIN CAMOENS 

PASIR GUDANG: The 1.5km stretch of Sungai Kim Kim – which was put under the national spotlight after it became polluted with chemical waste – is declared free of toxic pollution.

This declaration was made after carrying out an extensive cleaning operation, said Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

The authorities will still continue to monitor the river for the next 25 days to ensure the water and air quality within the surrounding is clean.

“The cleaning works by the appointed contractor began on March 13 and ended on March 17.

“Now, the job is to bring all the chemical waste collected to a factory for disposal. A total of 900 metric tonnes of soil and 1,500 metric tonnes of water that was polluted has been cleaned,” she said at a press conference held at the main dumping ground near Sungai Kim Kim here yesterday.

“The contractors involved in the cleaning operation are bringing out all the toxic waste systematically and safely.

“The entire procedure is expected to be completed on March 21,” she added.

To convince the surrounding community the area is now free from toxic spill, the authorities will be conducting inspection without wearing any safety equipment, said Yeo.

Meanwhile, when asked about the new dumping sites located at Sungai Masai and Sungai Semilang, Yeo said she would address the matter today.

“We will give a full report on everything that has happened in Pasir Gudang and other issues relating to the toxic waste at a special press conference at Menara Aqabah,” she said.

It was reported on March 7 that the

chemical dump at Sungai Kim Kim here has affected the health of more than 4,000 people, including students, forcing the government to close all 111 schools in the district.