DESPITE the improved air quality surrounding the Pulau Burung landfill in Nibong Tebal, the site would continue to be monitored closely by the relevant agencies, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
The landfill, measuring a total of 82 acres, saw 28 acres of it caught fire on Jan 12 this year.
“Although the air quality has improved, a lot of follow ups must be done in the coming days or weeks. This incident not only affects the operations at the landfill, but also the lives of many families living nearby there.
“On behalf of the state, I would like to thank all the relevant authorities that have worked really hard since day one to extinguish the fire at the landfill,” Chow said during a press conference at Dewan Serbaguna Jawi in Nibong Tebal today.
The fire affected 90 families and 10 schools in the vicinity.
South Seberang Perai district officer Marlia Mohd Belia said the affected families from Kampung Kebun Baru and Kampung Ladang Byram, who were instructed to move to a temporary relief centre, were not allowed to move back to their homes just yet.
“It is still risky for the families to go back to their homes. It is our responsibility to ensure that the people return only when the situation permits,” she said during her speech.
Meanwhile, Penang Department of Environment director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the Air Pollution Index (API) surrounding the landfill area currently stands at an average level, and more work would be done to improve the reading in the near future.
“We have been monitoring the situation from the beginning, and we have been using many kinds of tools, one of which is the ‘Cerex’ solutions to monitor multiple gases in real time.
“Also, it has been raining for the past few days or so, which certainly has helped improved the air quality here.
“Our drone team has been on its toes as well, making sure the hazardous gas released due to the fire doesn’t expand outside the designated landfill area.
“They have also been steadily monitoring hotspots surrounding the landfill, which could potentially spark new fire,” Sharifah said in her speech.
Separately, Sharifah said a notice has been extended to PLB Terang Sdn Bhd, the company managing the landfill, to improve certain things on site.
In a related development, Chow said the Local Government office and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) would be submitting a report on the fire incident during the state executive council (exco) meeting next week.
The report is to evaluate the company’s (PLB Terang) performances since its appointment in 2012, as well as to discuss further action that would be taken in view of the fire incident and recommendations on the management of the landfill in the future.
Among those present during the press conference were state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, Jawi assemblyman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus, MBSP mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis