Group Protests Outside Pasir Gudang Stadium Amid Townhall Session With Johor Mb

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PASIR GUDANG: A small group of residents staged a protest outside the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium, which is hosting a town hall session on environmental issues, on Sunday (Aug 4).

The Badan Bertindak Penduduk Isu Pencemaran Alam (BBPIPA) members, all clad in red shirts, were seen holding banners protesting the government's handling of the environmental pollution that hit Pasir Gudang since the Sungai Kim Kim incident on March 7.

Government agencies and schools around the area were invited to the town hall session that was attended by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

However, BBPIPA had to wait outside the indoor stadium.

BBPIPA deputy chairman Mohd Rafee Abdullah, who was present at the protest, said no town hall session was held between the government and local residents even though the group had requested for it many times.

"Besides the RM25 a day, which is insurance given to students that are warded in hospital, there was no aid or compensation from the government.

He said there was also no follow-up medical treatment for victims, claiming that the authorities were not taking a serious view on their health concerns.

Mohd Rafee also claimed that experts were not actively involved in handling the pollution problem and that reports by the Department of Environment (DoE) and other agencies were also not made public.

Meanwhile, Dr Sahruddin during the townhall session apologised on behalf of the state government pertaining to the pollution incidents here recently.

The Bukit Kepong assemblyman admitted that there were several matters that could be fixed under his jurisdiction over the handling of the pollution incident.

"As the head of state, I would like to apologise to the residents in Pasir Gudang and promise to rectify all the weaknesses," he added.- Star

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