Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin has dismissed claims that the cancer rate in Sungai Lembu, which came into the limelight over the illegal carbon filtering company controversy recently, is higher than the national average.

Afif, who is in charge of the state health portfolio, cited a 2015 report from the state health department saying there was no correlation between the cancer patients and the factory.

According to the report, none of the cancer patients from Sungai Lembu worked at the factory, nor was the premises situated on the route used by the villagers, said Afif.

“The health department stated very clearly that it cannot be ascertained that the factory contributed to the cancer risk...