Kampung Maju Jaya Residents Report Strong Odour Pollution

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Residents of Kampung Maju Jaya here claimed to have smelled a strong, pungent odour similar to chemicals at around 1 am yesterday.

The odour was reportedly noticeable around the village, including near the Tebrau River.

According to one resident, Zaini Kasirin, 49, the effects of the pollution caused some villagers, especially the elderly, to experience dizziness.

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"Yesterday, the villagers, particularly the elderly, complained of dizziness, which doesn’t usually happen.

"When everyone mentioned the smell in the village WhatsApp group, we advised them to stay indoors, but even inside the houses, the smell lingered," he said when met by reporters in the village today.

A trader in the village, Nor Lela Chokaran, 50, said she initially thought there was a gas leak in her stall after smelling the odour.

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"I thought it was a gas leak, but after checking the stove, there wasn’t any issue. I also noticed that there were fewer customers than usual, and many people were just ordering takeaway.

"One customer from the neighbouring village claimed the foul smell seemed like someone had dumped acid into the river," she said, adding that the odour caused her to feel dizzy as well.

Earlier, checks by Bernama today found that business activities were continuing as usual, but only a few residents could be seen purchasing food and basic necessities.

However, most residents claimed that the odour was not as strong as it had been yesterday.

Yesterday, a school in the village, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Maju Jaya, was closed at 1 pm after 27 students experienced symptoms of dizziness and vomiting, believed to be caused by odour pollution in Kampung Maju Jaya and Kampung Tawakal here.

It was reported that all the affected students received initial treatment at the school by doctors and nurses from a health clinic, with only one student referred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.

State Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin was quoted today as saying that SK Kampung Maju Jaya, along with two private schools, Sekolah Rendah Islam Hidayah and Sekolah Menengah Islam Hidayah, have been instructed to conduct home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

He said the PdPR might be extended depending on the situation and the latest reports related to the odour pollution.

-- BERNAMA