September 10, 2024
JOHOR BARU – Some 38 villagers of Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan here have been staying at a temporary relief centre at a community hall since last Thursday (Sept 5) due to toxic fumes because of pollution at Sungai Linggiu.
The relocation, which involved 10 Orang Asli families, happened after they complained of sore throats, nausea, dizziness, eye pain, vomiting, shortness of breath and fever.
Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan Tok Batin Hamdan Yusoff said the villagers were relocated to Balai Raya Kampung Orang Asli Kampung Sayong Pinang after getting assistance from Panti assemblyman Hahasrin Hashim.
“The odour pollution occurred on Wednesday (Sept 4) morning when some of the villagers suddenly experienced nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
“After the villagers seek treatment at Panti health clinic, Hahasrin then told us to relocate to the community hall, where we have been staying for almost a week now,” he said here on Monday (Sept 9).
Hamdan added that the villagers were grateful for them to be relocated as the chemical odour was very strong as the dumping ground, which is at Sungai Linggiu, is just a kilometre away from the village.
The 48-year-old also said that during the day of the incident, the villagers stopped a lorry tanker that dumped black liquid believed to be chemical in the river.
He claimed that the lorry driver and his assistant had been dumping the chemical into the river for a third time before their detainment.
“Their irresponsible action has impacted the villagers under my care,” he said adding that the villagers have handed over the two suspects to the police.
He urged the Department of Environment (DOE) and other related agencies to clean up Sungai Linggiu immediately from the chemical waste.
Villager Tuasa Abu, 48, claimed that she and her husband as well as her youngest child started to be unwell including having a fever due to the pollution.
“The smell is very bad. To make things even more concerning for me is that my husband has asthma and the pollution is not good for him,” she added.
Rozaha Sita, 32, said that she was still in her confinement after giving birth to her fourth child when instruction was given to the villagers to relocate.
“My husband and I were having really bad headaches. Luckily our baby girl, who was born on Aug 18, did not suffer from any illness due to the pollution.
“Our entire family have to use facemask even inside our home because of the really bad smell coming from the river,” she said adding that she was hopeful that the situation would improve as she wants to continue her confinement at her home.
Meanwhile, Hahasrin said that it was his own initiative to relocate the villagers to the community hall due to their health concerns because of the pollution.
“I have discussed the matter with the district office before the relocation. Once the doctors at the health clinic confirmed that the villagers were unhealthy because of toxic fumes, we relocated them.
“We do not know how long will the villagers stay at the community hall because the village still has the strong chemical odour, which normally comes out at night,” he said.
When contacted, a police source confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the pollution case at Sungai Linggiu where the case has been transferred to DOE for further investigation.