Kg Melayu Pandan Villagers Claim Chemical Pollution Stench Causing Dizzy Spells

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The strong chemical odour detected around Taman Daya, Taman Mount Austin, and Taman Istimewa earlier this morning, has now spread to Kampung Melayu Pandan.

Several villagers claim the stench is overpowering and causing them to suffer from dizzy spells. 

Mohamad Fauzi Mohamad, 51, Kampung Melayu Pandan Residents’ Association chairman said the foul smell was noticed around 7.30 am today.

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“I saw that the river water has receded, but the colour is something I have never seen in my life - black, murky, and oily.

“The stench is overpowering; anyone who breathes it in for a while will feel their throat becoming dry,” he said when met in the village.

Meanwhile, Mohd Mizal Abdul Hashim, 42, a supervisor at a kindergarten in the village, said the preschool was closed as a safety measure. 

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“The kindergarten is right beside the river, and the smell lingers in the classroom, so we took precautionary measures and closed,” he said

Resident Mohammad Jaafar, 66, also reported smelling the same odour around his home at midnight, which caused him a headache, and said the stench subsided a little after a few hours.  

Earlier, a Bernama survey of the affected areas detected a sharp gas-like odour, which caused headaches if one remained in the area for too long.

Tebrau Fire and Rescue Station Operations Commander, senior fire officer Khairul Azhar Abd Aziz, said that 19 personnel, including from the Larkin Fire and Rescue Station, inspected the area as soon as they received a report at 1.30 am today.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman, Ling Tian Soon, was reported to have stated that initial analysis of water and soil samples from Sungai Pandan taken by the Johor Fire and Rescue Department revealed the presence of chemical substances, although the specific type has yet to be identified.

-- BERNAMA