High level of ammonia gas detected along Sungai Pandan, says DOE

The Star

The Environment Department (DOE) has detected unusual levels of ammonia gas along Sungai Pandan near Kampung Melayu Pandan.  Its senior deputy director for Johor, Mohd Rashdan Topa, said the gas was detected at around 4pm on Tuesday (Sept 3).  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/a5zrt9ch  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00The Department of Environment, DOE, detected elevated levels of ammonia gas during air

00:07quality monitoring at Sungai Pandan, Kampung Melayu Pandan around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, following

00:14reports of chemical odor pollution in three areas in Johor Bahru.

00:19State DOE Senior Deputy Director Mohamed Rashtantopah reported that air quality readings returned

00:24to normal during subsequent monitoring at 1.10 a.m. on Wednesday.

00:29He explained that ammonia gas is commonly used in industries such as fertilizer, manufacturing

00:35and ice production.

00:37Consequently, further investigations will be conducted on approximately 100 factories

00:43located along the river.

00:45Mohamed Rashtantopah said the investigation will also explore the possibility that lorries

00:51from external factories may have been transporting and dumping waste into the river.

00:57He noted that the department had collected soil and water samples for analysis after

01:02aerial monitoring revealed an oil sheen stretching about two kilometers along the surface of

01:08Sungai Pandan.

01:09The river appeared blackish, raising suspicions of a chemical spill.

01:14The Johor State Health Department reported that two individuals experiencing symptoms

01:19of nausea and dizziness have received outpatient treatment.

01:23Earlier, a Burnama check in Kampung Melayu Pandan found that a religious school, which

01:29was closed on Tuesday, had resumed operations on Wednesday morning.

01:33However, a kindergarten remains closed.

01:36Kampung Melayu Pandan Residents' Association Chairman Mohamed Fauzi Mohamed said air quality

01:43on Wednesday was significantly improved compared to the previous day, though a slight odor

01:48lingered, particularly along Sungai Pandan.

01:52He added that residents remain concerned as the authorities have not yet identified

01:57the chemical substance found in the river.

02:00Johor Baru Mayor Datuk Mohamed Nurazam Osman stated that Sungai Pandan, also known as Sungai

02:05Terbrau, has been earmarked for redevelopment under MBJB's Special Area Plans, RKK, for

02:12the next 10 years.

02:14As part of the RKK, squatters and factories along or near the river will be relocated

02:19to clean up the area and improve the river's water quality.

02:24Regarding the incident, Mohamed Nurazam said MBJB is working with the DOE to obtain a full

02:30report to determine responsibility and take appropriate action.

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