- hot-spots
- toxic waste
- Malaysia
- Dumping of toxic waste in the Kim Kim River, Malaysia

Dumping of toxic waste in the Kim Kim River, Malaysia
Malaysia
last update:
9 months agoProblems
Kim Kim river pollution
The Kim Kim River is a 23-kilometer-long river that flows through the Pasir Gudang industrial town in Johor, Malaysia. The river is a vital resource for the local communities, providing water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. The river is also home to a rich biodiversity of aquatic life, such as fish, crabs, prawns, and clams. However, the river has been facing severe pollution problems for years due to the illegal dumping of toxic waste by unscrupulous factories and businesses. The pollution has affected not only the water quality and the river's ecosystem but also the public health and the livelihood of the people living near the river. Pasir Gudang residents have endured various foul stenches emanating from the river for years. The area is home to some 2,000 monolithic, sprawling industrial factories, with about 250 of them being chemical factories, despite the fact that new homes and commercial centres are sprouting up nearby. One of the most severe pollution incidents occurred on 7 March 2019, when around 20 to 40 tonnes of oil waste were illegally dumped into parts of the river. The waste contained at least 15 different types of chemicals, including the highly poisonous hydrogen cyanide. The garbage released toxic fumes that spread through the air, causing nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and breathing difficulties to thousands of people, especially school students. Immediately after the incident, 103 victims in the Pasir Gudang area complained of nausea, shortness of breath, and vomiting spells, with 35 people hospitalized. However, the doctors at that point were still unsure of what chemicals had affected the patients and did not know how to treat them. Two schools—Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Pasir Putih and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasir Putih—situated within half a kilometer of the dump site were then closed. While the clean-up in the aftermath of the toxic dump was carried out at a significant cost to the Malaysian authorities, the health implications for the communities in Pasir Gudang—which has a population of just over 45,000 people— affected by the incident will have long-term consequences. Some children who developed nerve problems from the poisoning are still unable to walk properly; neurologists have said they have to be monitored for the coming years. There is recognition that steps must be taken to prevent a disaster like this from happening again. Illegal toxic dumping continues to take place across Malaysia. Pasir Gudang, though extreme, is not an isolated case.
Gallery
4Timelines
2023
August 23
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Johor government and authorities to address the issue of river pollution, warning that failure to do so will result in more incidents, such as the 2019 dumping of chemical waste in Sungai Kim Kim, which saw thousands hospitalised and the closure of over 100 schools in the area.
2021
check on the river showed that the river had started to become cleaner and clearer when the Movement Control Order was first imposed in March 2020 and has become murky with oily spots flowing upstream.
2019
March 14
South Korean chemical company Lotte Chemical Titan Bhd stepped in to provide assistance and the expertise of 20 employees to affected schools and homes for the clean up. The Sultan of Johor also pledged RM1 million in aid to help the authorities purchase “whatever is necessary” to help the victims.
March 11
The second wave of toxic pollution hit 106 victims. 29 people were sent to health clinics nearby for examination, while 77 people were referred to Johor’s Sultan Ismail Hospital.
March 06
A tanker lorry under an illegal tyre recycling company dumped 20 to 40 tonnes of chemical waste under a bridge in Kota Masai into Sungai Kim Kim at Pasir Gudang. These chemicals consisted of benzene, acrylonitrile, and acrolein.