Nearly 40,000 water accounts in Johor affected by excessive ammonia levels
Residents getting water from a tanker near the Perling market in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BAHRU - Almost 40,000 water consumer accounts were affected after ammonia levels exceeding safety standards were detected in the raw water source supplying the Sultan Ismail Water Treatment Plant in Skudai on July 23.
Johor water operator Ranhill SAJ's chief executive officer Anuar Abdul Ghani described the incident as a serious case of contamination that disrupted clean water supply to residents in the affected areas, namely Skudai and Johor Bahru.
'As the sole water operator, we have taken proactive measures to address the incident and managed to reduce the number of affected accounts to fewer than 1,000.
'High concentrations of ammonia can pollute river water and make it unsafe for use. This not only harms the environment but also poses public health risks,' he said in a statement on July 25.
He stressed that the main causes of ammonia contamination were often linked to untreated sewage, industrial waste and uncontrolled agricultural activities.
'We have collected several water samples at the affected location to monitor the pollution levels.
'We are also working closely with relevant agencies to identify the cause and implement necessary mitigation steps,' he added.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability
Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA
Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day
Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA
Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers without facing penalties
Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees
Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions
Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly
The water operator also organised a special prayer led by the Johor Islamic Religious Department, Guru Takmir Mohd Zunnurain Abdul Khohar and attended by company staff with members of the local community at the plant.
Ranhill SAJ has urged the public, including local communities and industries, to play an active role in protecting rivers and preserving the environment to ensure the long-term sustainability of clean water resources in Johor. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Kpods, zombie oil or etomidate? A new name may help Hong Kong curb its youth drug crisis
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A banner warning against the dangers of etomidate, a new recreational drug, near a drug rehabilitation and counselling centre in Sham Shui Po. HONG KONG – A name can shape perceptions and Hong Kong is finding that a drug with an innocuous name is causing ripples of harm across society. It is for this reason that the government officially changed the name of the city's latest-trending recreational drug for the second time in 2025. In Singapore, these drugs are known as Kpods – fruity flavoured vape capsules laced with addictive sedatives like etomidate, a controlled anaesthetic. In Hong Kong, it was first marketed by drug peddlers as 'space oil', a substance that emerged in the city some time in late 2023, promising its users a euphoric high that would 'take them to space'. The government banned it and started referring to it as 'space oil drug' in February, after the authorities recognised the severity of the problem when several addicts died from abusing the drug and children as young as nine years old were found taking the substance. On July 31, the government renamed it yet again – to plain old 'etomidate' – evidently deciding to call a spade a spade this time. 'Previously when we called it 'space oil drug', some drug traffickers made use of the name to promote a sort of fantasy and some of the positive feelings after taking the drug,' Secretary for Security Chris Tang told the media as he announced the name change. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP2025 Life Feeling extra patriotic? Here are 7 other SG60 songs beyond official NDP theme Here We Are Singapore Man handed three vaping-related charges including importing 3,080 pods Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income World Trump's 100% semiconductor tariffs may hit chipmakers in Singapore, other SEA nations 'We have to properly name it as 'etomidate' so as to eradicate the positive sides of the old name of the drug. This drug will cause only harm.' The security chief's words marked Hong Kong's hardening of its narrative against the banned substance, as the government doubles down on efforts to convey the dangers of the drug to the public – in particular, the youth. Mr Tang implored the media to use the new name in reports on the drug. The name change was aimed at 'directly addressing etomidate's nature as a drug, just like marijuana and cocaine', he said. It was also to prevent the name 'space oil' from being used to 'deliberately glorify drugs containing etomidate, deceiving young people into taking them and causing them to ignore the serious harm they cause to their bodies', he added. The move to reframe characteristics associated with the drug came weeks after Mr Tang initially suggested renaming it 'zombie oil' to better reflect its effect on users. But that was vetoed after lawmakers raised concerns that the city's impressionable youth might find the term appealing as well and continue to be lured to abuse it. Hong Kong's abusers of the drug have been overwhelmingly young, with more than two-thirds of them aged under 21. Among young drug abusers, it is now the third most popular narcotic after cannabis and cocaine. The number of etomidate abusers recorded in the first half of 2025, at 327, has already exceeded the total of 300 for the whole of 2024. The actual number is likely much higher. Side effects of abusing the substance include a loss of control over one's body that results in a zombie-like gait, tremors, convulsions, memory loss, blackouts and even death. The security chief attempted to tap young people's social fears and body image concerns by stressing that additional side effects include drooling, hair loss, facial hair growth in young women, or skin and genital ulcers and deformities. Etomidate abusers, when high, often also engage in undignified and indecent self-harming behaviour in public that can be easily recorded and posted online, he warned. 'Taking etomidate is definitely not cool; knowing how to resist drugs is the way to be cool,' Mr Tang said. Those found consuming or in possession of etomidate face up to seven years' jail and a HK$1 million (S$164,000) fine. Traffickers and manufacturers face life in jail and a HK$5 million fine. The government has even roped in Cantopop star Aaron Kwok as its honorary narcotics commissioner to urge young people in Hong Kong to reject drugs. Kwok appeared at a publicity campaign on Aug 3, introducing new dance moves and chanting anti-drug slogans with dozens of youth ambassadors, who will help spread awareness of the dangers of etomidate at their schools. Lawmaker Dennis Lam welcomed the scrapping of the term 'space oil', which he described as 'inappropriately romantic'. Dropping the suggestion to rename it 'zombie oil' was also a wise choice, Dr Lam told local media, adding that the term might have sparked further curiosity among rebellious teens to try the substance. 'Simply calling the drug by its main chemical component will help clear misconceptions of the substance, increase awareness of its dangers, and avoid further romanticising it,' the ophthalmologist said. Quoting a common Cantonese proverbial phrase, he said: 'I'm more afraid of being given a poor name than being born into misfortune. A name can hold great power and influence.'
Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Man handed three vaping-related charges including importing 3,080 pods
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Neo Yeow Siang was at the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 4am on March 7 when he allegedly imported the 'Heetsticks', pods and two vaporisers SINGAPORE – A man was handed three vaping-related charges on Aug 7, including one count of importing 3,080 pods in assorted flavours. Neo Yeow Siang, 44, was also charged with importing 5,600 'Heetsticks' – tobacco products that are heated and not burned, providing users with a smokeless experience. The Singaporean was at the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 4am on March 7 when he allegedly imported the 'Heetsticks', pods and two vaporisers, court documents stated. At around noon that day, he allegedly had 10 disposable vaporisers in a Sengkang Housing Board flat. Neo's case will be mentioned again in court on Sept 18. From January 2024 to March 2025, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized $41 million worth of vapes – nearly fivefold the reported value of vapes seized from 2019 to end-2023, according to numbers compiled by The Straits Times. On July 29, 2,400 units of vapes and components were found on a lorry entering Singapore at Tuas Checkpoint. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP2025 Life Feeling extra patriotic? Here are 7 other SG60 songs beyond official NDP theme Here We Are Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple World Trump's 100% semiconductor tariffs may hit chipmakers in Singapore, other SEA nations On June 27, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint thwarted two attempts to smuggle vape products into Singapore in two Malaysian-registered cars. More than 5,900 units of e-vaporisers were found in a car entering Singapore at Woodlands Checkpoint on July 24. On July 8, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint scanned a bus and found over 3,800 e-vaporisers and components concealed in the luggage compartment. The cases have been referred to the Health Sciences Authority. The public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch by calling 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at Under current laws, possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Anyone who distributes, imports or sells vapes and their components can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000. Those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000. Etomidate is classified as a poison and regulated under the Poisons Act. It has clinical use as an anaesthetic, permitted only in clinical settings and under strict conditions. Experts told ST that etomidate has been known to cause a type of muscle spasm called myoclonus, which patients may describe as tremors. Symptoms of etomidate overdose include unsteadiness, sluggishness and mental confusion. If you need help to quit vaping, you can join the Health Promotion Board's I Quit programme by calling the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia's ‘chicken bone' influencers freed on police bail
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Three content creators were criticised for filming themselves collecting the leftover bones of chicken they ate and offering these to a homeless man. SEREMBAN - Three young friends who had been remanded on Aug 5 to assist in investigations for giving rice with chicken bones to a homeless man have been released on police bail. Seremban OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Hatta Che Din said the three aged 19,18 and 14 were brought to the Negeri Sembilan city from Johor Bahru on Aug 5 to be remanded. 'They have been released after their statements were recorded. 'Although the three are from Johor Bahru a report related to the incident was made (in Seremban),' he said. Mr Hatta said the three were being probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. In a video clip that went viral, the trio, believed to be influencers, were first seen eating at a fast food restaurant and then placing chicken bones in a pack of rice. They then hand it to a homeless man who was sleeping on a sidewalk. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore PUB investigating wastewater discharge in Eunos: Pritam Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates Life Feeling extra patriotic? Here are 7 other SG60 songs beyond official NDP theme Here We Are Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple World Trump's 100% semiconductor tariffs may hit chipmakers in Singapore, other SEA nations Singapore SCDF officer who molested female subordinate gets 15 months' jail The man appeared shocked after opening the packet but responded with a simple gesture of thanks. Following backlash from netizens, the trio later issued an apology. They claimed the man had been informed about the filming beforehand and had consented to it. They also claimed that they had given him a full meal of chicken with rice earlier. On Aug 5, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in a statement said it had questioned the three over the matter. It said the trio had their statements recorded at the Iskandar Puteri police headquarters in Johor. The MCMC had also seized three mobile phones and SIM cards from the three. The commission described the video as 'extremely offensive' and said the actions of the three youth had sparked criticism and touched on sensitive matters. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
