IPOH: Environmental organisation Greenpeace Malaysia (Greenpeace) has urged the government to establish an independent investigation panel to thoroughly probe the incident of Sungai Perak turning blue and to assess the level of compliance by the companies involved with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements.
Greenpeace said preliminary reports indicated radiation readings at the waste site were 13 times above permissible limits, raising major concerns over environmental safety, waste management transparency, and the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement.
"Suspending operations is a reasonable step, but it is only the beginning. We urge an independent and transparent investigation. The government must set up a panel of experts free from corporate influence to examine the chemical sources causing the river to turn blue.
"Beyond radiation sources and waste management failures, the level of company compliance with the EIA and related information must be disclosed for public safety,” it said in a statement on Friday (Nov 21).
The environmental group also called for immediate community protection and rehabilitation measures, urging the government to monitor water quality and ecosystems downstream, provide safe water if there was a health risk, and ensure the company bore full costs for cleanup under the "polluter pays” principle.
"Prioritising community rights and environmental sustainability means local residents who depend on the river must be provided clear information, health protection, and opportunities to participate in recovery and decision-making processes,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Malaysia Campaign lead Heng Kiah Chun said in the same statement that industrial mining expansion should not come at the expense of rivers, public health, and the future of coming generations.
"Incidents like this highlight the importance of recognising and implementing the Asean Declaration on Environmental Rights not merely as guiding principles, but as enforceable law in Malaysia,” he said.
On Nov 20, Perak Department of Environment (DOE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh reportedly said one of three mining companies was suspected to be involved in the pollution in the upper reaches of Sungai Perak at Kampung Sungai Papan, Gerik, last month, which caused the water to turn blue.- Bernama
