Pasir Gudang: What ails our rivers?

The industrial Johor town of Pasir Gudang has been making national headlines following two pollution fiascos that have raised plenty of questions. In March, chemical dumping near Sungai Kim Kim caused more than 2,000 people to be hospitalised. Last month, all schools in Pasir Gudang were shut down for 3 days after dozens of primary school students were hospitalised due to breathing difficulty. While the authorities are still investigating the source of the second pollution, worries are mounting over the frequent environmental pollutions in Pasir Gudang. A look at the Department of Environment’s (DOE) report revealed that 27 of the 51 polluted rivers in the country were in Johor. In Pasir Gudang alone, 5 of its rivers are classed between III to IV, being either ‘Polluted’ or ‘Heavily Polluted’. What ails the rivers of Pasir Gudang? Kinitv’s Vivian Yap, Malaysiakini’s Geraldine Tong and Wong Kai Hui visited Pasir Gudang to find out more.