Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Sahruddin Jamal said those who spread fake news on social media could be charged under Section 223 of the Communication and Multimedia Act.

“People are advised to not panic and believe fake news and ones that come from unverified sources,” he said in a statement today.

Spreading fake news to incite fear among the public is punishable by a jail term of up to two years under Section 505 of the Penal Code.

Sahruddin said 73 victims of toxic fumes who had sought treatment at the Sultanah Aminah and Sultan Ismail hospitals had been allowed to return home while 480 others were still undergoing health assessment at Pasir Gudang stadium.

He said clean-up work at Sungai Kim Kim, covering 680m of the 1.5km-long river, had begun.

A total of 250 jumbo bags of soil and sludge and 350 metric tonnes of polluted water had so far been collected in the operation which started on March 13.

They would be disposed of in a factory licensed by the Department of Environment.

Sahruddin said the Hazardous Material Unit was monitoring the clean-up work, which was being carried out around the clock by an appointed contractor.

“The fire and rescue team and JAS (Johor Department of Environment) are also monitoring the clean-up and taking air quality index readings. The air quality in some areas has improved,” he said.