JOHOR BARU: Victims of the Sungai Kim Kim toxic pollution and the Pasir Gudang Pollution Action Committee will be filing a lawsuit at the Johor Baru High Court soon.
Led by lawyer Kamarudin Ahmad, it will be filed on July 17 against 11 defendants, including the state government and the Johor Mentri Besar.
“The lawsuit represents 160 people, including 34 students, who fell ill, and 120 fishermen from Pasir Gudang, whose livelihood were badly affected by the pollution.
“It will also include seeking RM5mil in compensation for general damages suffered by Irfan Wafiy Idham Wazir.
“The 12-year-old was diagnosed with myokymia after he was believed to have been exposed to the toxic pollution in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, in March,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Kamarudin said the majority of students were from SM Taman Pasir Putih and SM Tanjung Puteri Resort.
“Some of them are victims of Sungai Kim Kim, who fell ill for a second time in the recent pollution.
“We also have enough proof from medical specialists on Irfan Wafiy, which shows that he has myokymia, based on an EMG (electromyography) report,” he said.
Kamarudin denied allegations that the victims fell sick due to mass hysteria and not gas pollution.
“These allegations have given the wrong picture of the actual situation suffered by them due to the pollution.
“It has also caused emotional pressure to the parents, in which the health of their children were affected,” he said.
The majority of the victims are asking for compensation between RM4,000 and RM5,000 each and leaving it to the court to decide on other compensations deemed fit.
Other defendants in the suit include Department of Environment, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Pasir Gudang Municipal Council, the state executive councillor for environment and Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change.
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