JOHOR BARU — Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar hopes to rid the state of industries which have contributed to environmental degradation, following a second case of chemical pollution to hit Pasir Gudang in three months, reported The Star.

Citing a plastic manufacturer that was allowed to operate in Johor despite other states rejecting them, Sultan Ibrahim told the newspaper in an interview that the Pasir Gudang contamination was “a total disgrace”.

The sultan also slammed state and federal disaster management officials as incompetent, adding that he would be summoning them to give an explanation on the two incidents which took place in the same area.

“We were assured that all was right and we heard the politicians and officials issuing us assurances, but barely three months later the people of Johor are faced with this issue again.

“This is despicable and a total disgrace,” he was quoted as saying.

Sultan Ibrahim said the continued contamination of the state’s waters and air “endangered not just the people of Johor but also Singaporeans”.

“I don’t care about the so-called economic value of these toxic industries as I am only concerned about the health of Johoreans. That is far more important than money.

“I don’t want the politicians, whether state or federal, to tell me about the economic impact. Please stop these,” he said.

Some 4,000 people living in the Pasir Gudang area had to seek treatment in March in the first incident.

Chemical waste were dumped into Sungai Kim Kim, which resulted in the air borne spread of methane gas.

Last week, 475 educational institutions, 14 private and international schools and 347 private kindergartens were ordered to close after more than 100 students from about 30 schools fell sick with respiratory problems.

Authorities hunting for the polluters reportedly have narrowed down the list of suspects to 30 chemical factories. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT