Johor DoE probes white effluent in Sungai Kim Kim, checks CCTV after pollution fears resurface

PASIR GUDANG, Oct 29 — The Department of Environment (DoE) is investigating Sungai Kim Kim here after receiving reports of a white cloudy effluent, triggering fears that pollution has returned.

The effluent, spotted near the bypass road between Taman Pasir Putih and Kota Masai here, is suspected of causing a foul odour reported since yesterday that has affected various areas around Johor Bahru and Pasir Gudang.

Johor Department of Environment (DoE) director Dr. Mohd Famey Yusoff said that the department has launched an investigation after receiving complaints about the incident.

“However, the river was found to have returned to normal and was no longer white or cloudy by the time DoE officers arrived at the scene to conduct an inspection.

“Therefore, it is likely that the incident occurred due to a one-off dumping of harmful substances into the river,” he told reporters when contacted about the issue today.

Earlier, residents in affected areas of Pasir Gudang took to social media to express frustration over the cloudy white effluent, which they say has occurred multiple times.

White cloudy effluent seen in Sungai Kim Kim near the Taman Pasir Putih–Kota Masai bypass road in Pasir Gudang on October 29, 2026, raising fears of renewed pollution. — Picture via Facebook

They have also urged the authorities to take stern action against those responsible.

On follow-up operations, Mohd Famey said that the Johor DoE, in collaboration with the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG), will examine closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the affected area to identify those responsible.

He added that action would be taken against any party found to have caused the pollution in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

On September 9, the High Court ruled in favour of 171 plaintiffs in their civil suit against four defendants over the previous Sungai Kim Kim incident.

Judicial Commissioner Manira Mohd Nor delivered the ruling and ordered the four defendants — a used tyre processing plant, P Tech Resources Sdn Bhd; two company directors who are Singaporean nationals, Wang Jing Chao, 41, and Yap Yoke Liang, 43; and a lorry driver, N. Maridass, 42 — to pay legal costs of RM100,000 to the plaintiffs.