KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia ordered 111 schools to close on Thursday as more than 200 children, teachers and others were taken to hospital after breathing in chemical fumes, but Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he believed the poisoning crisis was under control.

A total of 250 people have been hospitalized, including eight in intensive care, according to the national disaster management agency, after being poisoned by fumes from chemical waste dumped in a river in the industrial district of Pasir Gudang in southern Johor state.

It was a sharp increase from the 35 people, mostly pupils, who were taken to hospital after the toxic waste dump was first detected last week.

“I think the situation is under control,” Mohamad told reporters in Pasir Gudang, after visiting the disaster management operation center and the hospital where the victims are being treated.

“The main thing is that even if there is a recurrence of other people getting affected... I think the people tasked with dealing with this problem, they know their way about and know how to control this unusual poisoning by gas.”

Mahathir said the outbreak did not merit a declaration of emergency and said that the government has deployed the necessary assets and expertise to deal with “whatever situation that happens”.

Earlier on Thursday, the armed forces sent 12 squadrons from its chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit to help clean up the toxic waste.

The government told parliament that it will inspect all 254 chemical plants operating in Pasir Gudang within three days in the hunt for those responsible.</s>Trump says he fired John Bolton — but Bolton says he 'offered' to...

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read more</s>Malaysian authorities have shut 111 schools as of Wednesday, after a suspected chemical leak in the southern state of Johor poisoned more than 200 children, teachers and other people.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik said in a Facebook post that the situation is “getting more critical,” according to Reuters.

The cause of the poisoning is thought to be fumes from toxic waste dumped into a river, Reuters says. The schools closed are located in the Pasir Gudang area, near Malaysia’s southern border with Singapore.

It has not been confirmed who is responsible for the chemicals causing the poisoning.

According to Reuters, 207 people had been treated for poisoning. As of Monday 44 people remained in hospital, with six of those people in intensive care. A majority of those in hospital are students.</s>KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Reuters) - Malaysia has shut more schools after a suspected chemical leak last week left more than 200 children, teachers and others being treated for poisoning, its education minister said late on Wednesday.

The number of schools shut down climbed to 111 on Wednesday from 13 the day before.

Authorities believe the poisoning was caused by toxic waste dumped into a river near the schools in the southern state of Johor.

"Based on the current situation and advisory from the state's disaster management committee, the Ministry of Education have decided to shut all 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang area immediately," Education Minister Maszlee Malik said in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maszlee said in a Facebook post that the situation was "getting more critical".

The number of people treated climbed to 207 compared with 35 reported last week. As of Monday, 44 people were in hospital where six were in intensive care. Thirty-three of them are pupils. (Reporting by Fathin Ungku; Editing by Nick Macfie)</s>JOHOR BARU
• The dumping of chemical waste into a river in southern Johor about a week ago has led to nearly 500 people, including dozens of students, being treated for breathing difficulties and respiratory ailments.

The Education Ministry has ordered all 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang district to close with immediate effect late yesterday.

The area had been affected by toxic fumes from the chemical waste. It was discharged into Sungai Kim Kim, which flows into the Strait of Johor near Singapore's Pulau Ubin.

This river is separate from the Johor River, which has reservoirs upstream that supply raw water to Singapore and Johor.

"Based on the current situation and information from the State Disaster Management Committee, the Education Ministry has decided to close all 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang district effective today until a date to be notified," Education Minister Maszlee Malik said yesterday.

"Accordingly, all students, teachers, staff and employees at all schools do not have to attend their respective schools until the situation improves," he said, adding that he was told the situation had reached a critical level.

Nearly 300 people, mostly students, are receiving medical treatment at two government hospitals.

Malaysia's Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said yesterday that an illegal factory owner involved in tyre recycling in Kulai, Johor, is expected to be charged today in connection with the dumping.

If found guilty, he faces a maximum jail term of five years and a fine of RM500,000 (S$166,000), she said.

These are innocent schoolchildren, teachers and health workers... Don't those responsible feel any remorse at the thought that children in the ICU (intensive care unit) are fighting for their lives? These are my rakyat (people) and I will not let this matter go unanswered. I urge all government agencies to apprehend and punish the culprits immediately. SULTAN IBRAHIM ISMAIL SULTAN ISKANDAR, the ruler of Johor, in a statement on his Facebook page.

Ms Yeo also said that the Department of Environment would be installing gas detection monitors around Pasir Gudang to check on the air quality.

The ruler of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar, said in a statement on his Facebook page on Tuesday: "These are innocent schoolchildren, teachers and health workers... Don't those responsible feel any remorse at the thought that children in the ICU (intensive care unit) are fighting for their lives?

"These are my rakyat (people) and I will not let this matter go unanswered. I urge all government agencies to apprehend and punish the culprits immediately."

The latest incident occurred on Tuesday when 260 people, including students from two Tanjung Puteri Resort schools, were rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties.

Fishermen in the area are claiming that the thick sludge in the water is causing their boat engines to fail and that they have to row their boats out to sea.

Meanwhile, Johor's Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman, Dr Sahruddin Jamal, said the matter was getting from bad to worse.

It was learnt that the federal National Disaster Management Agency has taken over the handling of the situation at Sungai Kim Kim.

At the Tanjung Puteri Resort national school, headmaster Mohd Asri Abdul Kadir said strong winds blew the hazardous fumes into the school, causing many students to suffer breathing difficulties.

"Four schoolchildren were rushed to the school's treatment room after showing symptoms of gas poisoning," said Mr Asri, adding that 857 schoolchildren were affected.

"The number of pupils suffering from dizziness, nausea and vomiting increased gradually. They were rushed to the Taman Pasir Putih Community Hall for treatment," he said.</s>KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has shut more schools after a suspected chemical leak last week left more than 200 children, teachers and others being treated for poisoning, its education minister said late on Wednesday.

The number of schools shut down climbed to 111 on Wednesday from 13 the day before.

Authorities believe the poisoning was caused by toxic waste dumped into a river near the schools in the southern state of Johor.

"Based on the current situation and advisory from the state's disaster management committee, the Ministry of Education have decided to shut all 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang area immediately," Education Minister Maszlee Malik said in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maszlee said in a Facebook post that the situation was "getting more critical".

The number of people treated climbed to 207 compared with 35 reported last week. As of Monday, 44 people were in hospital where six were in intensive care. Thirty-three of them are pupils.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.</s>Malaysia's Ministry of Education has shut down 111 schools on Wednesday, March 13 in Johor after a suspected chemical leak last week. Due to the incident more than 200 children, teachers and other residents of that area suffered from serious health issues, as they received treatments for poisoning.

As per the reports, the Malaysian authority believes that the poisoning was caused by toxic waste dumped into Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang last Thursday, March 7.

Reuters reported that Education Minister Maszlee Malik said, "Based on the current situation and advisory from the state's disaster management committee, the Ministry of Education has decided to shut all 111 schools in the Pasir Gudang area immediately."

The minister had posted on Facebook that the situation is getting more critical. Maszlee also wrote that the Ministry of Education (KPM) has decided to close "111 schools in Pasir Gudang District effective immediately today (13 March 2019) up to one date that will be notified soon."

"According to that, all students, teachers, staff and employees in all schools regarding no need to attend to their respective school until the situation is back to heal.

"The Malaysian Education Ministry is asking for all parties to take precautions and always be alert with the authorities of the authorities from time to time."

Bernama reported that over 500 people received immediate treatment, while 166 people were hospitalized and nine individuals were shifted to ICU due to their exposure to the toxic fumes.

The poisonous smoke cases have increased after the authority was notified about the increased number of affected students from the surrounding area. Those students were taken to the Taman Pasir Putih community hall for shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.

Khairuddin Aman Razali, who is a PAS lawmaker, also asked the government to declare a state emergency, due to the escalating situation and wrote in a Facebook post that "Does the government wish to wait for more victims to come forward... before announcing more drastic measures, and not just treatment?"</s>The situation in Pasir Gudang, Johor is getting worse.

On the night of March 13, Malaysian Education Minister Maszlee Malik announced that all schools in Pasir Gudang will be closed until further notice.

Maszlee said the decision was taken based on information garnered by the State Disaster Management Committee. According to state news agency Bernama, he said:

“Accordingly, all students, teachers and staff of the affected schools are not required to attend school until the situation is fully restored. The Education Ministry has requested that all parties to take precautionary measures and adhere to the directives from the authorities, from time to time.”

Toxic fumes have been emanating from chemicals that have been illegally dumped into the Sungai Kim Kim river in Pasir Gudang.

Students from schools in the nearby Taman Pasir Putih area have sought medical attention for vomiting, nausea and shortness of breath, linked to the fumes.

506 people have sought treatment, with 166 hospitalised and nine sent to the Intensive Care Unit.

Malaysia’s Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin visited the area on March 13 and said that prosecutors would charge a suspect for illegally dumping the waste in the river.

However on March 14, the Malay Mail reported that the proceedings would be delayed, as the state Deputy Public Prosecutors Office directed the Department of Environment for more details.

Sultan of Johor has pledged RM1 million in aid

Johor’s royal family have also publicly spoken about the incident.

On March 14, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar shared in a Facebook post that he has pledged RM1 million (S$331,000) in aid to help the authorities purchase “whatever is necessary” to help the victims.

In an earlier post shared on March 12, the ruler of Johor urged the authorities to apprehend and punish those responsible for the environmental disaster.</s>The owner of an illegal factory involved in tyre recycling in Kulai, Johor, is expected to be charged today in connection with the dumping of hazardous chemicals into a river in Pasir Gudang that has caused hundreds of people to fall sick after inhaling the fumes.

Nearly 500 people, some of them students, have been treated following the waste dumping that occurred some time last week.

Students and teachers in seven schools in Pasir Gudang fainted or had breathing difficulties as the chemicals in Sungai Kim Kim flowed downstream.

The authorities yesterday closed 111 schools in the area while air quality is being monitored closely.

Malaysian media reports said two other individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.

Water from Sungai Kim Kim flows into the Strait of Johor, just north of Pulau Ubin.</s>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Toxic waste illegally dumped into a river in southern Johor state sickened scores of students and teachers, prompting Malaysia's government to order 111 schools to close Wednesday.

Education Minister Maszlee Malek earlier Wednesday told 34 schools to shut down and later said that number was up to 111 schools. He didn't give details.

More than 500 people were treated for breathing difficulties, dizziness, nausea and vomiting after inhaling toxic fumes from the waste. Officials said 166 people were hospitalized, and several were under intensive care.

Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin was quoted by the country's Bernama news agency as saying that rain could have caused the contamination to spread despite efforts to contain it.

Two factory owners and a worker have been detained for investigation. News outlets said the waste, believed to contain chemicals used to dissolve metal at a scrapyard and a chemical factory, was discharged a week ago, leaving a thick black sludge in the river. Cleanup efforts are ongoing.
At least 111 schools in Malaysia are shut down following the treatment of 200 children, staff, and others being poisoned. Authorities suspect that a chemical dump in the southern state of Johor is responsible for the sudden illnesses.