About 4,000 people have been hospitalised since the toxic fumes were first discovered emitting from the chemical waste illegally dumped into Sungai Kim Kim last Thursday. There has been no fatalities.The incident has also forced the government to close down 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang district until further notice.
What is most disturbing is the fact that we still do not know who really is responsible, or is the persons responsible 'protected'?
Focus has been on the victims...but really, an efficient government would have been quick to identify the perpetrators...
The extend of damages, injury, threat to life,....is large. Wonder what charge will the perpetrators be facing? Will it result in just some fine....personally, I hope that persons responsible should be imprisoned...they are simply lucky that no one died...
The victims also deserve to know who is responsible - They may have the RIGHT TO SUE them to get damages and compensation...
Are companies being protected? Every company who produces toxic waste has the obligation to dispose it safely ...they cannot simply hand it over to a third party who dumps it anywhere?
Now, will the companies responsible be prosecuted? Will all their Directors also be prosecuted? Even with the 1MDB and SRC cases, I wonder why not ALL the Directors also prosecuted. A Director is RESPONSIBLE for the actions and omissions of companies - no CEO or officer can do anything without first getting the approval of the Board of Directors...and Shareholders choose their Directors, so should they be held responsible too?
Remember the case about 2 workers killed by ammonia in a company, which allegedly did not have the necessary permits for storage of such chemicals? The Company and its Directors should have been charged in court for killing people - it may not be murder, but there are many other offenses when someone is killed... Again, after the deaths and hospitalization of so many, we did not hear anything after that ...WHY? Not bothered because the dead were simply Workers - migrant workers. Was that an 'Industrial Accident' - well, if they had the permit, and did all things necessary to ensure safe storage, etc ...then maybe it could be an 'accident' ...but if not, they must be made liable for their crimes?
2 pekerja 'dibunuh' diracun amonia - AG Tommy Thoma belum bertindak?RCI? Kes Bright Sparklers? Saman dapat dekat 1 juta dari kerajaan?
AG Tommy and Minister Kula - No prosecution/action against those respensible for death of 2 workers? Low priority?
Pekerja dan kesatuan(dan MTUC) TAK PEDULI 2 pekerja mati akibat racun di tempat kerja?
Is Azmin, MB Selangor, Local Council responsible for 2 worker's deaths and children sick from ice factory ammonia leaks?
New PH government must be different - those responsible, even if they are politically connected, must still be prosecuted for such wrongs...
Do we need an RCI? My hope is that they just not prosecute some lorry driver or workers who did the actual dumping ...but get also the 'kingpins' really responsible..
Even in the Altantuya case, we know the persons who actually did the killing have been prosecuted - but what about the person that gave the orders or paid for it? How many other perpetrators and 'big bosses' get scot free?
Pasir Gudang chemical spill: 6 things you need to know
KUALA LUMPUR - The illegal dumping of toxic waste into Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, Johor, has sickened 937 people and forced the closure of all 111 schools in the area.
Of the sick people, 12 are in stable condition in intensive care, the
Malay Mail said on Thursday, citing the Health Ministry. No deaths have
been reported.
A RM6.4 million (S$2.12 million) fund has been approved to clean up a
1.5km stretch of the river, Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change
and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin announced on Wednesday (March 13).
Here's what you need to know about the environmental catastrophe:
1. WHAT ARE THE TOXIC CHEMICALS?
Ms Yeo has said that at least eight chemicals have been identified,
based on sampling, but there are still unknown chemicals in the mix.
One of the chief pollutants has been identified as marine oil waste
by Department of Environment investigators. It is used to lubricate
marine engines and emits flammable methane and benzene fumes.
Between 20 and 40 tonnes of marine oil waste was dumped in the river,
Johor DOE director Datuk Mohammad Ezzani Mat Salleh told The Malay
Mail.
Other news reports in the New Straits Times and Berita Harian have
also listed other compounds such as acrylonitrile and acrolein, in
addition to hydrogen chloride, toulene, xylene and limonene.
2. WHEN WAS THE WASTE DUMPED?
A tanker lorry dumped the chemicals in the river on March 6, according to the Johor Department of Environment.
The first 103 people fell sick on March 7 and since then, the number of people who have fallen sick has risen to 937.
3. WHERE WAS THE WASTE DUMPED?
The toxic chemicals were dumped under a bridge connecting Taman Pasir Putih and Taman Kota Masai.
The location is just around half a kilometre from the schools where
students were first affected: SK Taman Pasir Putih, and SMK Pasir Putih.
4. WHY ARE THESE CHEMICALS TOXIC?
Methane exposure reduces oxygen levels in the body and can cause
organ damage, including to the brain and heart, according to the
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Methane gas can also
irritate the eyes.
Meanwhile, benzene can cause cell dysfunction, according to the US
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It alters blood levels
of anti-bodies, leading to the loss of white blood cells and causing
damage to the immune system. In addition, this can prevent bone marrow
from producing enough red blood cells, leading to anaemia.
Acrylonitrile is highly flammable and toxic at low doses. It releases
fumes of hydrogen cyanide and oxides of nitrogen. It is classified as a
Class 2B carcinogen - or "possibly carcinogenic" - by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Hydrogen cyanide impedes the normal use of oxygen by the body's
organs and can be deadly. All organ systems sensitive to low oxygen
levels - the brain, heart, blood vessels and lungs - are vulnerable.
Acrylonitrile and acrolein exposure can cause strong irritation to
the skin, eyes, and nasal passages, according to the CDC and Ullmann's
Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry.
5. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
The Johor Department of Environment detained two factory owners and a
worker, all in their 50s, on March 11 over their suspected involvement
in the dumping of the chemicals.
All three have admitted to their involvement, but have yet to be named pending charges being filed in court.
On Wednesday, an illegal factory owner was due to be charged at a
Magistrate's Court in Johor. However, the prosecution has postponed the
case pending further investigation.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said on Wednesday that a task force has been set up to to investigate the pollution.
6. HOW DOES ONE AVOID EXPOSURE?
The public have been offered the following advice:
- Do not enter the affected area and do not take part in recreational
activities near Sungai Kim Kim, as the toxic chemicals can spread due
to temperature, wind and weather conditions.
- The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia has advised the use of
appropriate protective equipment and measures. For example, if a family
member is affected, wash his or her clothing separately from the rest of
the family to avoid the chemicals being transferred.
- Get immediate treatment if experiencing symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, or eye and chest irritation.
- Follow the instructions of the authorities and stay up-to-date on
the latest developments. Don't fall prey to sensational or false
information. - Straits Times, 14/3/2019
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