Malaysian legislator speaks out against asbestos construction

Malaysian legislator speaks out against asbestos construction
Malaysian legislator speaks out against asbestos construction

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Two properties in a public housing project in Malaysia were discovered to contain asbestos.

The two houses built by the Malaysian government’s Housing Assistance Program have walls made from the deadly mineral, according to the Malaysia Star.

Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, a legislator whose district covers the contaminated properties, spoke out at the State Assembly against the construction.

“As we all know, asbestos has been banned because it causes ‘asbestosis’, which affects the lungs,” he said. “I hope the government agency in charge will study the matter and solve the problem for these house owners.”
Houses Completed After Country Bans Asbestos

The doctor also indicated that the houses were completed in February of this year, after the country had banned the use of asbestos. Still, Rahman said some construction firms don’t adhere to the rules.

“Some of these new houses, despite new guidelines, are built by class ‘F’ contractors, who flaunt the law. Such problems are ongoing,” he said.

Ensuring that asbestos is not a part of construction is vital because asbestos exposure can lead to a variety of illnesses if the mineral is inhaled in its dust form. Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis can be caused by such exposure.
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Malaysian legislator speaks out against asbestos construction