Bauxite mining misery

KUANTAN, 10 Julai -- Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (PEKA) membuat bantahan terhadap aktiviti-aktiviti perlombongan bauksit secara haram yang mencemarkan alam sekitar di Felda Bukit Goh hari ini.Kontraktor yang terlibat dalam perlombongan bauksit tidak mematuhi prosedur standart (SOP) yang ditetapkan oleh pihak berkuasa sehingga menyebabkan masalah alam sekitar seperti debu-debu bauksit berterbangan yang boleh menyebabkan masalah kesihatan seperti asma dan penyakit kulit.--fotoBERNAMA (2015) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

KUANTAN: When Felda Bukit Goh settler Hamid Deraman was approached by a contractor seeking to mine bauxite on his land, the 79-year-old quickly signed up.

Hamid was given a RM50,000 deposit and he proceeded to have his land cleared of 500 oil palm trees with the promise of earning RM200,000 once the bauxite was mined.

However, he was later told by the contractor that the bauxite on his land was of low quality and the mining would not proceed, leaving him with barren land.

Bukit Goh Bauxite Issues Committee chairman Datuk Dr Abd Wahid Abd Manap said this was the situation faced by many settlers who were drawn by the large amount of money promised for the mineral on their land.

“They do not understand the many implications of signing their land over to mining contractors, causing all sorts of problems to crop up later.

“There are those whose land have been mined halfway and the contractor just left.

The transportation of bauxite has also brought its own set of problems in Felda Bukit Goh. Photo: Bernamapic

“None of the mining operations in this settlement are actually licensed which is an offence under the Mineral Enactment,” he said after holding a dialogue with affected settlers. The committee is made up of settlers whose land contain bauxite.

Dr Abd Wahid said 71 settlers had been served notices by the district Land and Mines Office, warning them that they could be punished with ten years’ imprisonment or fined RM500,000 or both for mining without a licence.

Uncontrolled bauxite mining had contributed to rampant pollution in the district.

Reckless lorry drivers transporting the ore to the Kuantan Port also present a hazard to other road users.

Dr Abd Wahid said the pollution problems and cheating cases stemming from bauxite mining could be controlled if the state government approved licences for the settlers.

He admitted however, that there was now an obstacle in the way of the committee’s attempt to obtain the licences after Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob announced that 34 mining ore licences (MOL) in the state would be terminated effective July 31.

Adnan Yaakob said they had to take the drastic measure as multiple warnings and enforcement action had failed to have any effect.

Members of the committee signing a memorandum calling for all bauxite mining operations to cease during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

Dr Abd Wahid said they will meet with the mentri besar personally to appeal for mining licences for Bukit Goh settlers.

“We believe bauxite mining operations can be regulated if it is licensed.

“Right now, unlicensed contractors just want to dig up the ore and transport it out as quickly as possible, causing all the pollution problems,” he said.

Dr Abd Wahid added the committee believe that issues arising from bauxite mining can be resolved if the state government grants official licences to settlers.

He admitted that currently none of the bauxite mining operations in the Felda Bukit Goh area was sanctioned.

“These mining contractors want to dig up all the bauxite as quickly as possible without regard for rules and regulations.

“They only care about profit and this is causing all sorts of problems such as environmental pollution, traffic issues and road damage

“The contractors do not care even when warnings are issued by enforcement agencies like the Land Public Transport Commission, the police and others,” he said.

Dr Abd Wahid added the committee wished to cooperate with the state government to ensure bauxite mining is regulated.

“The state government must look at this issue seriously.

“We want the state government to benefit from bauxite mining but at the same time, our interests must be taken care of.

“I will try to arrange a meeting with the mentri besar and the Land and Mines Office soon.

“If possible, I will also try to meet with the Sultan of Pahang,” he said.

Dr Abd Wahid, who is a Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) member, also stressed that it was not under the jurisdiction of MPK to regulate bauxite mining.

Sungai Lembing assemblyman Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah, who also attended the dialogue, said the mentri besar should consider granting mining licenses to those who have bauxite ore on their land.

He asked settlers who felt that they have been cheated by mining contractors to contact the action committee.