JOHOR BAHRU – The state government will wait for the security report from the quarters concerned before Sunday to decide to reopen two schools which are affected by the chemical pollution in the KimKim River, Pasir Gudang.
State Religious Affairs and Education Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said, currently, the two schools, namely, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Puteh and SMK Taman Pasir Puteh had been directed to be temporarily closed.
‘’Coincidentally, there are no schoolings tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, but to decide whether they will be opened or not on Sunday, we will wait for the report from the Department of Environment, Hazardous Materials and Waste Management (Hazmat) Unit and Fire and Rescue Department.
‘’The report is important to ensure their safety,’’ he told reporters after visiting the victims at the Sultan Ismail Hospital this evening.
Also present during the visit were State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal and State Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang.
Aminolhuda said there were 1,566 pupils and students and 122 teachers and other personnel at the two schools.
‘’Currently, although the schools are not open, the teachers and the support staff cannot go on leave. So, they have to register at the nearby schools while the pupils and students do not have to go to school,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, a Bernama check at the two schools and housing area at 1.30 pm found the areas quiet with no one around. The operations centre outside the schools was also closed.
A tanker is believed to have dumped chemical waste in KimKim River yesterday morning and that the Environment Department and the Fire and Rescue Department were now investigating it.
-BERNAMA
