Seberang Perai Selatan disaster committee chairman Marlia Mohd Belia said residual air and gas pollution surrounding the landfill made the area unsafe for residents.

She said the committee had hence decided not to allow residents, particularly the 44 residents  sheltered temporarily at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Saujana Indah, to return to their homes.

“We can’t do anything about residents who had moved to their relatives’ houses from returning home.

“Currently, the landfill is still a Level 1 disaster area,” she told a press conference today.

When the fire broke out on Jan 12, about 400 residents from 90 families living near the landfill were temporarily evacuated to a safe location. The fire was successfully extinguished on Jan 31.

State department of environment director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab, who was also present, said the air pollutant index (API) in the area had shown better readings but still had not reached acceptable levels.

“The air quality has improved because of rainfall in Pulau Burung. I have also been informed by MetMalaysia that there will be more rain in a day or two.

“So we hope the rain will help to reduce the air and gas pollution so that residents can return home. Monitoring and inspections will continue until it is completely safe,” she said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Seberang Perai city council would present a report on the incident to the state executive council next week.

The report is expected to outline proposed measures, especially in relation to the Pulau Burung landfill management company and its performance since being appointed in 2012.

“Concession and other issues will be discussed. Any action against the management company will be made after the deliberations,” he said.