KUANTAN: Complaints against the controversial bauxite mining have been deafening and a frustrated Pahang Mentri Besar is lashing out at industry players who just do not seem to care.
Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said he has not been sitting still and had on numerous occasions engaged in discussions with stakeholders.
“The state government has also received many complaints from many quarters; within Umno and Barisan Nasional, NGOs and concerned individuals regarding this matter.
“I have met, at least four times, with the operators, contractors and transport operators advising them to take into consideration the hardship the people are experiencing due to their irresponsible mode of extracting the ore.
“Sadly, this advice has fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
The Federal Government also stepped in to help.
“InsyaAllah, the state government will come up with a comprehensive plan to manage this issue by the end of the year.
“In the final analysis, the social benefit and welfare of the innocent common people must outweigh whatever economic benefits,” said Adnan.
The Mentri Besar also expressed his appreciation to the press for reporting on the bauxite mining activities in Pahang.
The Star on its front page yesterday reported about experts raising the red flag that the bauxite mining areas in Pahang could cause dangerous mudslides and worsen floods if monsoon rains lash the state.
Even those who support the mining activities are calling for a stop until the rains go away.
In a separate matter, quality sampling of water sources near the mining area of Bukit Goh showed levels of aluminium higher than acceptable standards set by the Health Ministry.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Chemical Engineering Department’s Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed, who was part of the sampling team, said while the levels were not worrying yet it could have grave long-term effects.
Dr Maketab noted the results were based on a single, one-off sampling on Dec 3 – after two days without rain in the area.
Levels of aluminium exceeded the Health Ministry’s standard of 0.20mg/L, with aluminium levels going as high as 0.29mg/L and 0.25mg/L at two of the 10 locations tested.
“Both sampling sites are local residences at Felda Bukit Goh.
“There is also a near non-compliance at a residence at Felda Bukit Sagu,” said Dr Maketab.
The mining for bauxite is centred around Bukit Goh, some 15km outside of Kuantan town, while Bukit Sagu is a nearby settler lot.
The concentrations of aluminium were more than three times the limit in nearby rivers used as raw water intakes, including in Sg Kuantan (0.74mg/L), the confluence of Sungai Batu and Sungai Rong (0.78mg/L), and Sungai Riau (0.81mg/L).
Dr Maketab said while aluminium sulfate was used in the water treatment process, the levels in drinking water were usually low enough to be undetectable.
