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Published: Wednesday May 20, 2009 MYT 9:03:00 PM

Angry parents protest at gas station after leak

By WANI MUTHIAH


SHAH ALAM: Angry parents gathered at a gas station in Bukit Kemuning on Wednesday to protest against an alleged gas leak that resulted in their children being rushed to hospital on Tuesday.

In the mishap 70 students, three teachers and a cleaner from SRK (T) Ladang Emerald suffered breathing difficulties after inhaling fumes from the nearby Petronas station that regulated and transferred gas flow to industrial and residential areas in the Klang Valley.

The alleged leak is believed to have happened when maintenance work was being carried out by a Petronas team.

Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who was at the gas station on Wednesday, said it was alarming that such an incident could happen.

“We are now very frightened as we may be dealing with a potential time bomb.

“What will happen if there is a larger emission of the stuff which made the children experience breathing difficulties and faint? Is it safe for them to come to school here?,” said Gunaraj.

All the teachers and students were given outpatient treatment and discharged except for the cleaner A. Nanthini, 40, who wa admitted to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.

A four-year-old daughter of the school’s canteen operator, who was also exposed to the fumes on Tuesday, was rushed to hospital Wednesday after she appeared to be listless and was not able to consume food.

Parent-Teacher Association chairman S. Murugiah said they would be lodging a police report against the station owner and would also initiate legal proceedings.

Also at the gathering was V. Ganabatirau, former Internal Security Act detainee and legal adviser to the now outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force movement. His niece Jayabarathi, 9, was also one of the effected students.

Shah Alam City Council councillor K. Uthayasoorian, who was at the scene, said the maintenance team had obviously not followed standard operating procedures.

“Firstly, notice must be sent to all parties nearby informing them of the maintenance work. Secondly, such work must only be carried out at night or during the weekends when there arent many people around,” he said.

Uthayasoorian also claimed that Petronas had not sent a crisis management team to the site after the mishap to explain to parents and teachers what had happened.

Kota Raja Member of Parliament Dr Siti Maria Mahmud said the onus was now on Petronas to pay for medical check-ups for all the students to ensure that they were alright.

“An independent probe into the incident must also be initiated and petrochemical experts engaged to conduct it must be from outside Petronas,” she said.

Petronas Gas Shah Alam area manager Mohd Isa Adam said company officials had gone to the school and spoken to a teacher on Wednesday.

“We wanted to speak to the parents today but the headmaster was away on a course and would only be back on Friday.

“So we will be meeting the parents and all relevant parties on Friday,” he said.

According to Mohd Isa, the station is owned by Petronas and is used to channel gas to Gas Malaysia clients in the Klang valley.

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