New SOP to address bauxite-related pollution in 3 months' time

The Natural Resources and Environmental Ministry will come out with a new standard operation procedure (SOP) to address issues on environmental pollution due to bauxite mining in Kuantan, Pahang in three months' time.

Its deputy minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said the matter was being studied and detailed discussions were being conducted jointly with several relevant agencies.

"In fact the ministry already has an existing SOP on bauxite mining activities based on several ministry level workshops being held previously but we need to improve several things, especially on those involving some unsatisfactory aspects.

"We will use the moratarium period to study the SOP jointly with agencies under the ministry and other authorities such as the Road Transport Department, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and others," he said.

Hamim, who is Ledang MP, told reporters this when met after attending the Bukit Gambir polling district centre 'Sembang Santai Hati Ke Hati' programme here Friday.

Hamim said if the operators complied with the new SOP, mining activities and bauxite exports could resume but it should ensure environmental conditions prevailed.

At the ministry level, he said mining activities would be accepted as long as they did not pollute the environment and brought about adverse health effects to the people.

Two days ago Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that the government would impose a moratorium on all bauxite mining activities in Pahang for three months from Jan 15.

He said to curb pollution from such activities, the government had also frozen the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for mining operations since last week.