Johor DOE probes Sungai Kim Kim after river turns white again, cable excavation suspected

The Johor Department of Environment is investigating suspected pollution in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, after the river reportedly turned white yesterday. — Picture via Facebook/JB 新山吹水站2.0

First Published: Thursday, 29 Oct 2026 9:15 PM MYT

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 29 — The Johor Department of Environment (DOE) is investigating allegations that Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang has become polluted again, turning white yesterday.

Johor DOE director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff said enforcement officers inspected the site at about 6pm following a complaint about the incident.

However, he said preliminary inspections yesterday found that the river water had returned to normal and was no longer visibly white.

Mohd Famey said preliminary investigations suggested that the incident could have been caused by a one-off waste discharge into the river.

“Nevertheless, the DOE, together with the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG), will examine closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the vicinity of the suspected dumping site,” he told Bernama.

Mohd Famey said the CCTV footage would be examined to identify the source of the pollution and those responsible.

He said strict legal action would be taken against any party or individual found to be involved in the waste dumping incident.

Yesterday, a social media post went viral alleging that Sungai Kim Kim had been polluted again, accompanied by several photographs showing the river water turning white.

The chemical pollution incident at Sungai Kim Kim in March 2019 shocked the nation, affecting more than 2,000 people and resulting in the closure of 111 schools in Pasir Gudang.

Meanwhile, State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said that the pollution was believed to have been caused by excavation work to a depth of about five metres for cable installation.

He said the information was based on further investigations conducted by the DOE today.

“The cable installation work was carried out yesterday at about 3pm,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Ling said the state government understood the public’s concerns and stressed that it took all reports involving environmental quality seriously, adding that it would ensure the relevant agencies carried out appropriate monitoring and follow-up action.

Members of the public are also encouraged to lodge complaints if they detect any suspicious activities or signs of environmental pollution, so that investigations and further action can be carried out promptly. — Bernama