KPKT to clean up bauxite affected areas from tomorrow

The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) will start cleaning up areas affected by bauxite mining in Kuantan, Pahang from tomorrow (Jan 14).

Its Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak directed the ministry to carry out cleaning up works after taking into consideration the feedbacks and complaints of affected local residents at the Cabinet meeting today.

As such, the Prime Minister wanted local authorities, Fire and Rescue Department as well as Alam Flora Sdn Bhd to expedite cleaning up to ensure the areas affected were back to their normal appearance, he said.

Abdul Rahman in a statement today said the cleaning up was expected to be completed in a month.

He said 21 firemen from four stations with seven high-powered machinery would be involved in the clean-up.

It would also involved cleaning up signboards, lamp posts and road surface especially at 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, he said.

He said Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, the concession company for public cleansing and solid waste management would also go to the ground with 14 machinery such as road sweepers, open tippers, catch basin vacall as well as 40 employees.

"Other agencies will also be involved to speed up cleaning works," he said.