Environmental issue happened in Malaysia

1. AIR POLLUTION IN PASIR GUDANG
INDUSTRIAL TOWN LOCATED IN THE EASTERN GATE DEVELOPMENT
OF ISKANDAR JOHOR
AREA: 31,132 HA
TOTAL POPULATION: 145,639

2. NEWS
 March 11 — 105 students and residents near Sungai Kim Kim fell sick and
were admitted to the hospital after aspirate poisonous gases. 106 new victims
were sent to hospitals including eight admitted into the intensive care unit
(ICU)
 March 12 — Three men admit their involvement in the illegal dumping. By
now, about 250 people have been affected and 13 schools closed.
 March 14 — A staggering 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste is extracted from
Sungai Kim Kim. By this time, 947 people have sought medical treatment for
shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, including 82 who were warded at
the Sultan Ismail Hospital, 85 at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, 39 at Pasir Gudang
KPJ Hospital and three at the Regency Hospital.

3.  March 17 — The Johor state government, through the Social Welfare Department (JKM), will provide
counselling for students, to help them recover from the trauma of the chemical waste pollution in Sungai
Kim Kim.
 March 19 — Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister Yeo Bee
Yin declares the contaminated section of Sungai Kim Kim safe after the clean-up.By this time, a
whopping 900 tonnes of contaminated substances and 1,500 metric tonnes of contaminated water have
been cleared from the 1.5-kilometre stretch of Sungai Kim Kim that was affected. At this stage, it was
reported that more than 4,000 people were affected and 111 schools shuttered.
 March 22 — Yeo announces that the cost to clear the waste from Sungai Kim Kim was RM6.4 million,
and projected the price will balloon to over RM10 million.
NEWS

4. ROOT CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
 In March 2019, toxic chemical waste was illegally dumped into Sungai Kim
Kim in Pasir Gudang, affecting some 4,000 people who sought treatment for
shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting after inhaling toxic fumes.
 The waste thrown into Sungai Kim Kim has since been identified as marine oil
waste which emits flammable methane and benzene fumes
 The chemicals will react with water and air to produce gases such as
acrylonitrile, xylene, methane and toluene gases which can cause headaches,
breathing difficulties, nausea and allergies.

5. IMPACT THAT RELATED TO RESIDENTS’ HEALTH
ISSUE
100 students from over 30 schools
experienced the same breathing
difficulties and nausea
When the school reopened, there are
273 peoples reportedly suffered
breathing difficulties and vomiting at
27 schools.
A kid called Irfan Wafiy Idham Wazir
suffering from Myokymia after he was
suspected to breathe in poisonous
gases during school hour.
Myokymia is one type of diseases
which causes several parts of the
body to tremble

6. EFFECT OF AIR
POLLUTION TO
RESIDENTS IN
PASIR GUDANG
 Students feel uncomfortable during
morning hours (9am to 11am)
happened a day after it has rained
→ chemical molecules or vapours rise
in the morning
→ classes on the top floor of the
school buildings are influenced
 education centre - close for a short
period

7. LEGAL CONCERN OR PROFESSIONALISM
 March 24 — Two company directors and a lorry driver of a used tyre-processing company are charged in
the Johor Baru Sessions Court for the chemical contamination of Sungai Kim Kim. The three are
Singaporean Wang Jin Chao, 34, and Malaysians Yap Yoke Liang, 36, and lorry driver N. Maridass, 35.
 April 23 — MESTECC announces that it will adopt a standard operating procedure (SOP) to address
toxicological pollution and to improve preparedness of relevant parties and agencies in the event of a
toxic pollution incident similar to that at Sungai Kim-Kim.
 April 24 — Sim Wei Der, another Singaporean company director wanted in connection with the chemical
pollution of Sungai Kim Kim, surrenders to the Johor police, and is charged a day later in the Johor Baru
Sessions Court for abetting three others in the illegal dumping of chemical waste into Sungai Kim Kim.
In Malaysia, the Department of Environment (DOE) is responsible for rules and regulations
on industrial waste. In the Environmental Quality Act, 1974 (EQA), it is given the
acceptable limits of effluent discharge for various chemicals and heavy metals as well as
scheduled waste.
In the case of Pasir Gudang, illegal dumping of chemicals and scheduled waste in the
areas in and around Sg. Kim Kim attributed to the air pollution. Hence, authorities should
ensure that the EQA is enforced and those responsible adhere to the given rules and
regulations.

8. REMEDIATION
 Sungai Kim Kim is placed at the domestic level once
polluted with chemical waste and is proclaimed to be safe
of poisonous emissions for 1.5 km of distance. This
statement was issued after a major washing procedure,
said Yeo Bee Yin, Minister for Environment, Energie,
Technology, Science and Climate Change.
 Over the next 25 days, the authorities will continue to
monitor the river to ensure clean water and air quality in
the area. Clean-ups started on March 13 and finished on
March 17, by the designated contractor. It is the task to
transport to a plant for recycling all the chemical waste
gathered. A sum of 900 tons of soil and 1500 tons of
polluted water have been washed. All toxic waste is
systematically and safely removed by the cleaning
companies concerned. The completion of the full
operation is anticipated on 21 March.

9. REMEDIATION
 The officials will inspect this region without any safety
equipment in order to persuade the neighbouring society that it
is now safe of toxic pollution, Yeo said. Meanwhile, when asked
about the new dumping sites located at Sungai Masai and
Sungai Semilang, Yeo 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,
Approximately RM6.5 million (US$ 2.16 million) will be required
to remove pollutants from the 1,5 km of Sungai Kim Kim area
where chemicals were illegally deposited previously this month.
 Over 3,000 individuals were being treated for exposure to
dangerous smokes two weeks ago when industrial waste was
dumped into the river and 111 schools in the area had to close
on 13 March. Costs would be more than RM10 million in total
for the cleaning operation.

10. DISCUSS HOW THE DISASTER COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
 July 1 — MESTECC announces that the government will not approve any more applications for the
construction of new chemical plants in Pasir Gudang.
 Yeo also announces that all chemical factories in Pasir Gudang are required to adopt schools which are
closest to their operations, and equip the schools with mandatory gas detectors.

11. 1ST RECOMMENDATION
 Introduce a tracking system that collects pollution data on a more frequent basis including readings
from river pollution and air pollution. While reading from the river pollution is not directly linked to the
level of air pollution, there is a direct correlation as the dump in the river eventually cointegrates to
release the harmful gases Setting up a tracking system which tracks the level of pollution on a more
frequent basis on not only when crisis happens could possible prevent harmful effects as it is and
indicator to signal potential harmful at an earlier stage
 Moreover, with pollution indicators signalling high levels of dangerous gases at and earlier stages, more
effective preventive measures can be carried out on an immediate basis before the gases effect the
population in the Pasir Gudang area. This would include potential filtering or efforts to release other
chemical to neutralise the effect of the harmful gases before the issue is escalated to such a serious level.

12. 2ND RECOMMENDATION
 Implementation of a more strictly law.
 The authorities should implement fines more strictly to corporations or individuals who are involved in
rubbish or water waste dumping.
 In this case the culprits behind this Pasir Gudang should get a severe punishment strict action from the
authority.
 Besides, more strict surveillance and random checks on companies in terms of the emission of bi-
products to prevent air pollution.
 The authority must ensure all the companies or factory follows the procedure of EIA and the
environment law. The company that failed to follow all the requirement should be stopped from working
and their licence shall be suspended.

13. CONCLUSION
 Having a safe environment for people around us is important as lives of people are involved.
 As an Engineer, it’s our responsibility to ensure safety measurements are always taken in any work.