Families affected by fire at Pulau Burung landfill to get RM1,000 each

NIBONG TEBAL: The Penang State Government will provide disaster assistance of RM1,000 for each family affected by the fire at the Pulau Burung landfill, Jalan Byram here.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the financial assistance would be disbursed soon to the 90 families in the two housing estates closest to the landfill.

"The fire has directly impacted residents in the two housing areas, namely Ladang Byram, involving 38 families and Kampung Kebun Baru (52 families) and it is hoped that the aid will help ease the burden of the families affected by the fire that occurred since Jan 12," he told a press conference after the Disaster Management Committee meeting here today.

About 400 residents, involving 90 families, living near the landfill located on Byram Road were temporarily evacuated to a safe location as the air in their residential area was filled with hazardous smoke.

A total of 44 people from 10 families there are currently housed at a relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Saujana Indah since Jan 16, while the others have moved stay at the homes of their relatives.

Chow advised those who were evacuated to not worry about the safety of their homes as members of the Malaysian Volunteer Department (RELA) had been tasked to conduct round-the clock patrol in the area, apart from regular patrols by the police.

During the meeting, XChow said, it was decided that only the Ladang Byram Tamil National Type School (SJKT) with 21 students would continue to be closed as it was closest to the landfill.

The school is located about 1 kilometer from the landfill where the air index condition is still unsafe, he said, adding that nine other schools which were previously closed for three days until yesterday will be reopened this Monday , with no outdoor activities allowed.

The nine schools are SJKT Ladang Changkat, SJKT Nibong Tebal, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Pai Teik, SK Seri Sentosa, SK Keledang Jaya, SK Nibong Tebal, SK Methodist, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Nibong and SMK Methodist.

The decision was taken after finding that the air index within a radius of 10 kilometers (km), including the schools, is at AEGL 3 (Acute Exposure Guidelines Level), where the air affects health and threatens the lives of residents.

-- BERNAMA