60 per cent of bauxite waste in Kuantan cleaned - Alam Flora

Its chief executive officer Mohd Zain Hassan said to date, 60 per cent of the areas had been cleaned up, involving 39 locations and 17 residential areas.

"The cleaning operations were carried out at the badly affected roads such as Jalan Kuantan-Pelabuhan, Jalan Bukit Goh, Jalan Bukit Kuantan, Jalan Sungai Lembing, Jalan Kuantan Bypass, Jalan Gebeng Bypass, Jalan Jerangau Jabor and Jalan Bukit Sagu-Cherul.

"Taman Beserah Permai and Pusat Khidmat Gebeng Jaya were the most badly affected areas with bauxite dust and the areas have been clean up," he told reporters after attending sports activities with Kelab Media Pahang at Sungai the Pandan waterfall here, Saturday.

He said, Alam Flora was always commited in carrying out cleanliness activities in the country for the well-being of communities, without thinking about the cost involved.

"It is undeniable that the cost to clean up bauxite waste is high as the operation involves 30 staff and 17 machines specially brought for the purpose.

"However, the cost will be discussed only after we complete the cleaning operations as what is important for Alam Flora is the well-being of the residents health," he said.

In another development, Mohd Zain said the community awareness on the solid waste separation programme, effective from Sept 1, last year had increased due to the cooperation from the media.

"Statistics showed that more than 300 tonnes of recycled items were collected from houses within two months of the implementation. This shows a positive development in encouraging people to recycle.