Tawau villagers blame mining ops for sickness

KOTA KINABALU: An investigation is being conducted on claims that several villagers in Tawau are falling sick from toxin inhalation near the Bukit Mantri mining site, says the Sabah Health Department.

Its director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said they were working with agencies such as the state Environment Protection Department to find out the truth.

“We first need to check this matter thoroughly, whether there was indeed a toxin emitted from the mining activity, and if there was, what kind of toxin it was,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said their next action would depend on the outcome of the toxicity test.

For the time being, local authorities have been urged to probe the matter and take proper precautions, said Dr Asits.

“I was informed by my officer in Tawau that instructions have been issued by the state Local Government and Housing Ministry to investigate and take immediate action,” he added.

According to several villagers in Kampung Balung where the mining is going on, some of them have started falling ill with fever and were vomiting.

They suspect that this was due to them inhaling sodium cyanide, and they are calling for the mining operations to be stopped until the investigation is concluded.