KOTA BARU: A total of 17 individuals in Kelantan were injured while playing with firecrackers and fireworks.
State health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said this was based on the cases referred to the government hospitals and health clinics statewide. He added that the cases were recorded from March 19 until yesterday.
"The state health department has recorded 17 cases of those injured due to firecrackers and fireworks.
"Two of the victims were female while the rest were male. The victims were aged between 4 and 40 years.
"The first case was recorded on March 19 involving an 11-year-old boy from Kota Baru," he said.
Dr Zaini said four of them were warded while the other 13 only sought outpatient treatment.
"Most of them had facial and eye injuries while others had injuries on their fingers," he said.
He said the department was concerned with the rising cases of such injuries, and urged parents to monitor their children closely.
"We cannot look at this issue lightly as there is an upward trend in cases referred to the government health facilities of late," he added.
Last year, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that the cabinet had agreed to legalise fireworks and firecrackers in the country in a move to put a halt to the smuggling of these items.
He said wholesalers and importers who brought in fireworks and firecrackers illegally would now have to apply for a licence, pay import duties as well as adhere to guidelines and regulations.
