White powder scare at 13th floor of Health Ministry
BY JOSEPH KAOS
THE STAR
Fire brigade personel checking out a parcel containing suspicious powdery substance from Ministry of Health building in Putrajaya. - MOHD SAHAR MISNI/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry had a scare after an A4-sized envelope containing suspicious powdery substance was discovered by an employee of the minister’s office.
A staff of Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam had opened an envelope, which was sent via courier service and addressed to the minister, and discovered some white powder.
The staff soon felt itchy and sought for help, fearing that the powder might be hazardous.
The Fire and Rescue Department arrived at the Health Ministry’s Block E7 building here at 3.30pm Friday after receiving a distress call.
Employees at Level 13 of the building, which also housed the Deputy Health Minister’s office, were evacuated.
About six officers from the department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit were tasked to retrieve the suspicious package.
A spokesman for the department said the package would be sent to their research centre in Bandar Enstek, Sepang, to be tested.
“The staff who opened the package was not asked to seek treatment, and only told to have a clean shower,” said the spokesman.
Dr Subramaniam was chairing his ministry’s post-cabinet meeting at Level 4 at the time of the incident.
He declined to comment when approached by reporters after the meeting.
Putrajaya district police chief Asst Comm Rosly Hassan said police are investigating the source of the package and if there were any malicious intent.
Fire brigade personel checking out a parcel containing suspicious powdery substance from Ministry of Health building in Putrajaya. - MOHD SAHAR MISNI/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry had a scare after an A4-sized envelope containing suspicious powdery substance was discovered by an employee of the minister’s office.
A staff of Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam had opened an envelope, which was sent via courier service and addressed to the minister, and discovered some white powder.
The staff soon felt itchy and sought for help, fearing that the powder might be hazardous.
The Fire and Rescue Department arrived at the Health Ministry’s Block E7 building here at 3.30pm Friday after receiving a distress call.
Employees at Level 13 of the building, which also housed the Deputy Health Minister’s office, were evacuated.
About six officers from the department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit were tasked to retrieve the suspicious package.
A spokesman for the department said the package would be sent to their research centre in Bandar Enstek, Sepang, to be tested.
“The staff who opened the package was not asked to seek treatment, and only told to have a clean shower,” said the spokesman.
Dr Subramaniam was chairing his ministry’s post-cabinet meeting at Level 4 at the time of the incident.
He declined to comment when approached by reporters after the meeting.
Putrajaya district police chief Asst Comm Rosly Hassan said police are investigating the source of the package and if there were any malicious intent.
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