SG PETANI – The air quality in and around Sg Petani continues to be unhealthy for the third week running since residents first alerted the Environment and Water Ministry and the Environment Department (DoE) on the matter.
An informal environmental watchdog group found the particulate matter (PM) reading of the air to be at 2.5 (12 μg/m3) – which is unhealthy – from March 29 till Tuesday.
According to the local group comprising doctors, university students, and other residents, locals have been exposed to “pungent and toxic” air which has led to breathing difficulties, nausea, and vomiting.
A spokesman for the group said that they had yet to see action taken against the management of a plant suspected to be responsible for the poor air quality.
“We have made numerous complaints and given online feedback to the ministry’s complaints page and the DoE,” the spokesman said.
“However, there has been no response from the authorities and all our efforts have been in vain as there is no change in the situation and we continue to breathe unhealthy air.
“In the last three days, the winds were very strong and there was a smell throughout every day,” the spokesman told The Vibes.
A retired man who wished to be identified only as Ahmad said: “We are waiting for a miracle to happen as there are no changes even after informing the relevant authorities.”
Residents of Sg Petani, Cinta Sayang Resort Villa, and the surrounding housing estates have expressed frustration over smoke emissions from a factory in Bukit Selambau Industrial Estate.
The Vibes had reported the residents’ plight due to the poor air quality last week.
When contacted for comment, a Kedah DoE officer asked The Vibes to make a complaint on the e-Aduan portal.
If the air quality level goes to or above 35 μg/m3 in a 24-hour period, the air pollution is considered to be high and can cause problems for people with breathing issues such as asthma.
It seems this is not the first time air pollution from Bukit Selambau has affected the surrounding district.
In September last year, the authorities issued a stop-work order to a wood product manufacturing plant and an electronic waste treatment plant that discharged an excess of polluted air in their operations. – The Vibes, April 16, 2022
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