SHAH ALAM, Jan 25 — Four men sustained burns and three women experienced breathing difficulties after exposure to an ammonia gas leak at a factory in the Pulau Indah industrial area, Klang, yesterday afternoon.

Assistant director of operations with the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Ahmad Mukhlis Mokhtar, said the burn victims were taken to the hospital by factory management before the fire department arrived at the scene.

He did not explain how the four male workers sustained burns.

He stated that they received a call regarding the incident at 12.17 pm and dispatched 16 personnel along with a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) vehicle, a Fire Response Vehicle (FRV), and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit to the scene.

“Initial investigations found that there was a valve leak in the ammonia gas line and three female workers were found to be experiencing breathing difficulties,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The leak was contained by the Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) Special Team at 3.10 pm. — Bernama

IPOH: The district of Larut Matang and Selama was hit by floods on Saturday (Jan 25) morning, forcing 42 victims from 15 families to seek shelter at the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Dewan Orang Ramai Simpang Halt.

The Perak State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, said the flooding was caused by continuous heavy rain for an hour, which led to several areas in Kampung Simpang Halt being inundated.

"Monitoring showed rising water levels, prompting the opening of a PPS and the evacuation of residents," it said.

Meanwhile, Sungai Bidor in Changkat Jong, Hilir Perak, has reached the alert level of 3.25m compared to the normal level of 2.00m.- Bernama

BINTULU (Jan 25): The Welfare Department (JKM) here distributed 10 sets of dry food and basic necessities such as blankets, mattresses and pillows to the fire victims of Rumah Beji Utek in Sungai Kelabat Pandan, Sebauh on Friday.

In a statement, Civil Defence Force (APM) Bintulu officer Captain Mohd Johari Mohd Taufik said the assistance was handed over to the Tuai Rumah (longhouse chieftain), who represented the recipients.

He said that as of 12.30pm this afternoon, APM had identified around 70 victims, involving 11 households.

“The detailed data collection of residents has not been carried out as some of them were not present at the location during the visit.

“The JKM urges the affected residents to gather here immediately to ensure that no one is left out,” he said, adding that the Tuai Rumah will keep an update on the information.

He added that so far, no temporary shelters have been set up as some victims are staying at the homes of relatives in nearby villages and some have gone back to Bintulu town.

It was reported that the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received a call regarding the fire incident at 10.58pm on Thursday, which destroyed the longhouse.

“No injuries or fatalities were reported, and the cause of fire and value of losses are still under investigation,” said Mohd Johari.

PENAMPANG (Jan 25): The government must have a budget to address environment related problems such as bushfires and floodings.

Warisan Preisdent Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal said there must be enough funding to cate for the needs of the people and all the states in the event of a disaster occuring.

He added that he will bring this issue up in Parliament.

“At least the people are protected. Malaysians, irrespective of where they are, in Kelantan or Kota Tinggi Johor or in Sabah or in Sarawak,” he said to the media during the Warisan Chinese New Year walkabout in Lido on Saturday.

Shafie arrived around 7.30am in Lido, and spent some time visiting each of the stall operators at the Lido market, and later, to shops around the vicinity. He engaged in small talk with the vendors and patrons.

Shafie also made numerous purchases, ranging from biscuits to fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits.

“There is an abundance of supply in vegetables. I think some of them are involved in farming, and some have bought them from Papar, from Kota Belud, from Kota Marudu,” shared Shafie after his walkabout.

He added that many people he met lamented the high cost of goods, and noted that not much could be bought for RM30.

“What is important for us is to overcome the price of goods, even though probably it can be controlled but (we need to address) the capacity of our people (to spend) … the purchasing power is very much in question,” he said.

“I hope there are steps to address the problems of our community.

“When sitting with the people, they complained about no water and while I was there, the electricity suddenly went off. These are issues that need to be addressed,” he said.

He said that if the government could spend a millon or two million for festivities, but lacks the money to spend on people in Kota Marudu and Pitas who have to wade in the water during flooding.

“They could buy speedboats so the people do not have to wade in the water. The people can sit on the boat safely with their children. There must be a disaster committee that can address this issue in Sabah,” he said.

Shafie also claimed that flood mitigation in Sabah is incomplete.

He also asked the government to ensure it prepares a place to first resettle residents facing eviction, such as those staying at Rumah Pangsa in Tanjung Aru, the water village in Sembulan, Kg Likas Lama and even at his own constituency.

“I have informed the Sabah Government that if it wants to evict them, they have to prepare a place for the residents to be resettled. This could be a rented low-cost housing, or we prepare a system where they can pay a deposit and pay later. Otherwise, where will the residents sleep? They will become squatters at another place. They will relocate from squatter A to squatter B and so on.”

He reminded that those facing the eviction notices were Sabahans, Malaysians.

“Which is the priority? Is it to build buildings? For example, I told Joachim (Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam) not to demolish the water village in Semporna, which is an old (village). We have gazetted the village. And in Likas recently, it might be for flood mitigation but there are (other) ways to address flood mitigation.

Not just by demolishing houses … but I am not saying that they cannot be relocated. Aside from giving the (eviction) notice, they must also be given an alternative site for housing,” said the Semporna member of parliament and Senallang assemblyman.