Rivers are important for supplying clean water for human consumption. The quality of your drinking water depends largely on the quality of the nearby river. However, the quality of rivers have deteriorated due to the contamination of pollution from human activities. On March 14, 2019, Kim Kim river located in Pasir Gudang was polluted by the illegal dumping of toxic waste. The illegal dumping released toxic fumes, affecting 6,000 people and hospitalizing 2,775. Most of the victims were school students. 110 schools located near the river had to be temporarily closed. The current authority has allocated RM6.4 million of budget which was mainly used to clear the 1.5 kilometre stretch of the affected river with further cost expected to balloon to over RM10 million. The Department of Environment (DOE) has licensed a company to begin the clean up the river. More than 40 tonnes of the toxic waste dumped into the river was identified as marine oil waste which is usually used to lubricate marine engines. The oil emits flammable methane and benzene fumes.

Eyewitnesses say the dumping was done during the pre-dawn hours of March 7. On June 24, 2019, the airborne pollution has again affected dozens of students in Johor's Pasir Gudang district. The incident was caused by leftover chemical waste in Sungai Kim Kim that was supposed to have been cleaned up three months ago. Initial investigations found that the cleaning contractor which were assigned to clear the waste did not do a thorough job in clearing the toxic materials. As a result, the toxic materials have been exposed to wind and rain, the uncontrolled air borne substances may have spread and affected the people once again. What problem arises from the above incident? What are the ethical issues involved in the situation? If you are working in the company assigned to clean up the river, what action could you made to improve the above situation?