Education Minister Maszlee Malik today denied issuing a statement that schools affected by the contamination of Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang have to replace the days they were closed, as reported in a local newspaper yesterday.

In a statement issued today, Maszlee said the decision on whether the school days need to be replaced will be made by the Johor Education Department and the Pasir Gudang Education Office.

“I want to stress that I have never issued a statement that schools have to replace the days they were closed due to chemical waste contamination in Pasir Gudang.

“In the press conference concerned, the transcript of my response was as follows: 'I will inform later through the Johor Education Department, they will inform the Pasir Gudang Education Office and the schools,” he said.

Maszlee added that his ministry had asked the newspaper concerned to correct its report so as not to confuse the public.

Yesterday, a newspaper published an article titled “Schools affected by Sungai Kim Kim must replace schooling days,” which drew varied reactions from netizens.

On March 13, Maszlee instructed 111 schools affected by the contamination in Sungai Kim Kim to be immediately closed until a date which would be announced later.

Last Friday, Johor Education Department deputy director Azman Adnan was reported as saying that the affected schools would reopen on March 31 after the completion of cleaning works.

- Bernama