Support action on pollution

Chemicals in the water: The Fire and Rescue Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit personnel collecting water samples from Sg Kim Kim in Johor in 2019. It was one of the worst chemical pollution incidents in the country, affecting the health of more than 4,000 people. — Filepic/The Star

CHEMICALS, waste and pollution are collectively a critical issue that will be discussed at the United Nations Environment Assembly taking place in Nairobi from today until Wednesday. More specifically, more than 10 countries will call for the establishment of an inter- governmental science-policy body on the issue.

As an environmental scientist, I am hopeful that Malaysia too will back this initiative. To this end, I sent letters and emails over four weeks ago to the Environment and Water Ministry and several other policymakers requesting their support. These letters were part of a campaign led by the International Panel on Chemical Pollution made up of independent scientists.