Negeri Sembilan health, environment, cooperatives and consumerism action committee chairman S Veerapan said the clean-up work should be conducted in accordance with the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.

He said the the factory was also ordered to immediately stop its processing activities until control and cleaning measures were done to overcome the problem.

“Samples of the chemical containing methyl methacrylate taken from the intermediate bulk container (IBC) as well as in the public drain outside the factory building will also be sent to the Department of Chemistry for an analysis.

“The department also conducted air quality monitoring operation using the Cerexms gas analyser yesterday from 8pm to midnight.

“The operation continues today and will be carried out until 8pm in the affected residential area along Lorong 7, Taman D’Latania,” he said in a statement here today.

Veerapan said the state DOE also recommended that the monitoring operation be conducted in residential areas located within a 3km radius of the factory.

He said action in line with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 will be taken against the factory operator,  should any evidence of negligence be found.

It was reported that the Seremban fire station received information from the public about the unpleasant odour in the area at about 1pm yesterday.

Initial investigations found that there was a chemical leak during the transfer of acid from the large IBC tank and there was damage to the pump, which resulted in it overflowing and entering the drain.