Bauxite mining: Pahang MB rebukes Kuantan MP for giving inaccurate info

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob Tuesday rebuked Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh for providing inaccurate information on the pollution of four rivers in the district, said to have been caused by bauxite

mining activities.

He said, while the state government did not deny the problems caused by the mining activities, he hoped any information on the pollution must be accurate to avoid confusion among the people.

"I understand the Kuantan member of parliament wanted to protest in Parliament Tuesday, on the issue. We, as a government will not object if it is done in the interest of the people.

"But you must not talk as you please, like she mentioned that Sungai Riau, Sungai Mabok, Sungai Pinang and Sungai Pengorak in Kuantan were not safe to be used because they contained high magnesium level," he said when winding up the debate on Budget 2016 in the Pahang State Assembly at Wisma Pahang here Tuesday.

Adnan said Fuziah's allegation was in contrast with the statement from the state health department dated Oct 8, which stated that the test sampling on raw materials and prepared food near the bauxite mining area was safe to eat.

He said the government was ready to reveal whatever effects from bauxite mining activities, such as reports by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) in relation to the action of two bauxite mining companies illegally siphoning water from Sungai Rong and Sungai Teweh into reservoirs they had built to process bauxite.

"On Oct 22, DID and Sungai Lembing State Assemblyman Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah found, after a thorough probe, that the two companies had abused their mining permits by illegally diverting water from the rivers.

"This caused the Bukit Goh and Bukit Sagu water treatment plants to lose their water resources. The operators have been warned that if they do not rectify the detour, their licence will be suspended," added Adnan.