Eric See-To
The illegal factory (in Penang, the source of a controversy that saw state exco Phee Boon Poh arrested by MACC) is 50,000 square feet in size or about the size of a football field.
It has a roof and no walls – which means the 2,000 tons of sawdust that they burn monthly is essentially open burning as when the wind blows, all the ash as well as the sawdust gets carried away unfiltered to surrounding areas.
There are many health studies that says sawdust, wood-dust and the ash from burning them is toxic to humans and may cause cancer.
Apparently 11 out of the 500 villagers now have cancer while 5 young adults there died from cancer in the past 2 years – rates that far exceed the national cancer incidence average by a factor of 23 times.
One look at the place and how they operate would mean that any sensible person can see why this factory should not be allowed to operate as is.
Questions should now be asked why the Penang Govt issued letters to the councils to stop enforcement action and allow the factory to continue operating for 10 years.
This video will show what the factory looks like:
Source: www.facebook.com/EricSeeTo
