PORT DICKSON: Carelessness has been cited as the cause behind 24 Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Linggi students suffering various symptoms of toxic poisoning from inhaling pesticide sprayed at a chilli farm near the school on Thursday.
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries minister Sim Tze Tzin said the spraying of the pesticide was not done according to schedule.
He said it was supposed to have been carried out either late at night or on weekends, when there were no lessons being conducted at the school.
"Based on investigation by the Agriculture Department, they found the pesticide was sprayed at a chilli farm located some 500 metres from the school and it was done at 9am with the weather being a bit windy at the time," he told reporters on the sidelines of the PKR Central Leadership Council retreat, here, today.
In the incident on Thursday, 24 students were referred to the Linggi Health Clinic and the Port Dickson Hospital for treatment after displaying symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness and diarrhoea.
Commenting further, Sim said investigation also found that the pesticide used was Malathion and not suitable for chilli farms.
They also found the workers tasked with spraying the pesticide were not properly trained to handle the substance.
"The farm had just started operations and their workers are inexperienced. The owner should have sent the workers for training with the Agriculture Department.
"This is important so that workers, especially foreigners, will know how to read labels and the amount of pesticide to use. Most of these farm owners do not go for the training eventhough the department has been offering it since 2006," he said.
He said the department would continue to monitor the use of pesticides at the farm to ensure they follow the law so as not to see a repeat of Thursday's incident.