TASK FORCE ON SUNGAI KIM KIM & PASIR GUDANG INCIDENTS

The incidents of Sungai Kim Kim and Pasir Gudang triggered a nationwide awareness on the poor state of our chemical governance and uncontrolled industrial growth that had posed danger to the community. Malaysians witnessed our first major case of chemical pollution that led to the closure of all schools in Pasir Gudang.

In order to provide a holistic recommendation to the government, ASM established the Task Force on Sg Kim Kim and Pasir Gudang incidents, chaired by Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Wan Ramli Wan Daud FASc. Within six weeks, the Task Force convened four times, held a site visit to Pasir Gudang and presented the final report to the YB Minister of MESTECC and YAB Menteri Besar Johor.

Recommendations:

1. A revised safety buffer zone in line with the findings by the Loading Analysis and Carrying Capacity study in Pasir Gudang presented by a group of academicians and government agencies to Johor state government and the then MESTECC.
2. The use of Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) with flame ionisation (FID) and photoionisation detectors (PID) to be stationed at Pasir Gudang. The Ministry purchased 25 automatic gas detectors (GCMS PID) to be stationed at Pasir Gudang for a real-time alert system.
3. Establishment of a new Department of Environment office in Pasir Gudang for better enforcement and monitoring.