Bauxite mining near Kuantan must be suspended immediately because this no longer a question of possible risk of contamination - but the fact of contamination has been shown. Health Ministry says already 'increase in a number of health complications'... we are talking about arsenic, magnesium, etc... in fish and vegetables - which may lead to cancer, affect kidneys, diabetes, coma and even death...
- New Straits Time's Probe Team's (which I would say is independent) has done a GOOD JOB in highlighting this.
'...level of arsenic found in fish caught in the water sources in the area at 101.5 mg/kg is way above the permissible level of of 1mg/kg...''...Magnesium levels found were some three times higher than the tolerable daily intake for adults...'
- The Health Ministry agrees with NST's findings - suggested shutting down bauxite mines
'...Dr Hilmi[Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya] said the ministry’s findings from the numerous samples tested were also similar to those highlighted by the NST. “We have tested various samples. Fish, vegetables, etc. We, too, found heavy metals and arsenic in some of them.”..Dr Hilmi cautioned the people to be extremely careful when consuming such fishes and vegetables,“The increase in bauxite mining activities in recent times has contributed to the increase in a number of health complications, such as respiratory and allergy problems. This is not good in the long run, as it can lead to cancer....SHUTTING down all bauxite mines in Pahang is the most effective solution to the worsening health and environmental hazards due to bauxite contamination, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said.
But sadly, the Pahang Menteri Besar and government seems to be more concerned about business interests rather than public health.
I suspect fish and vegetables from Pahang gets send to many places around Malaysia - so we all now need to be careful when we buy and consume such products..
The Menteri Besar seem to be trying to blame the lorry operators and drivers - but alas, if you read the news reports - the actions were taken for speeding, and not having permits for transporting bauxite >> nothing really about causing the contamination? One should really be looking at the mine operators - because after all it is they that should be responsible for ALL aspects of the bauxite mining operations.
What is Menteri Besar and Pahang Government Doing?
Well, they have said that the bauxite mining operations will continue for now..
They have got the Department of Environment and the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) to collect samples and conduct tests. The results will be known in a month's time >> Odd, how long is it to take samples and conduct tests to re-confirm the already available findings of Health Ministry and NST's Probe Team...I would say it would take no more than a day of 2..
Why depend on AELB? Here we are talking about arsenic poisoning...magnesium poisoning...radiation is just one aspect amongst many. [Ah yes...was it not AELB that green-lighted Lynas...so maybe a 'Pahang government friendly agency'] Remember also that the Pahang’s Public Amenities and Environment Committee
had claimed that the waters were safe...just days before NST showed that it was not, and the Health Ministry concurred with NST... Which Departments and Committees do the people trust?
On Wednesday, Adnan said the Department of Environment and the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) had collected water, soil and bauxite samples to be tested for radioactivity levels, with results to be known in a month’s time.“The question on people’s mind is why the state government can’t close down everything, but that is a separate matter. Whatever it is, we will wait for the outcome from the minister’s[Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau] visit and AELB’s findings.
But, then is this not a public health issue - hence the decision should really be based now on the findings of the Health Ministry
We are talking about suspending all bauxite mining operations NOW pending further review which may happen after DOE and AELB results come in, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wilfred
Madius Tangau visits and makes a report. Food is contaminated and people are getting sick - and so, what has that Minister got anything to do with that?
Face the toxic facts
6 August 2015 @ 12:00 PM (New Straits Times)
TOXIC contamination of the polluted waters of Sungai Pengorak and Pantai
Pengorak near Kuantan, Pahang, is evidenced by the high content of
arsenic metalloid and heavy metals in fish samples from the Gebeng
coastal area tested by this newspaper’s Probes Team.
Only a few days
earlier, however, Pahang’s Public Amenities and Environment Committee
had claimed that the waters were safe, notwithstanding the reddish hue
caused by bauxite sediments emanating from mining activities in the
area. If the committee is to be believed, then the inference is that
aquatic life there had been poisoned in only a couple of days, which is
just not possible.
And yet, when faced with the facts — that the level
of arsenic found in fish caught in the water sources in the area at
101.5 mg/kg is way above the permissible level of of 1mg/kg — the state
authorities do not appear to be overly perturbed.
For why else would the
state government allow mining activity to go on in the face of such
damning evidence?
Given the scientific evidence and expert opinions insisting on the
danger of consuming seafood caught from these waters, the concern is to
do with actions the state will take to protect public health.
Common
sense will tell any responsible authority that the right thing to do
would be to suspend all mining activities pending the outcome of test
results of samples of earth, water and bauxite sent to the Atomic Energy
Licensing Board.
For the toxicity of the sea-life here is at levels way
above that which is permissible, meaning that ingestion by humans will
result in serious illness. Some are carcinogens, others could affect the
kidneys while still others could debilitate a person’s general health.
Regular consumption at the levels found in the fish could result in
diabetes and cancer.
Other than arsenic, large amounts of iron, zinc,
copper, nickel, plumbum and magnesium were found in the fish sample.
Magnesium levels found were some three times higher than the tolerable
daily intake for adults and adolescents. In extreme cases, magnesium
could cause coma and even death.
To be burying one’s head in the sand, as ostriches might, to not
confront the issue is not constructive. The enormity of the problem
demands that the liable authorities confront it with a determination
that will bring about a solution.
They must put a stop to bauxite mining
immediately while safety measures are put in place to make sure that
the contamination is stopped and set regulations that will be properly
enforced.
Granted, the resulting losses could amount to millions of
ringgit, but endangering public health intentionally is not only
inexcusable and very costly, it is also criminal.
Again, the Pahang
government is slow to act, as in the severe problem of soil erosion in
Cameron Highlands.
The administration’s priorities seemed skewed towards
maintaining the status quo. Anything that challenges it, for some
reason, seems antithetical.
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/94940
‘Shutting down mines best option’
By Audrey Dermawan - 7 August 2015 @ 11:00 AM
GEORGE TOWN: SHUTTING down all bauxite mines in Pahang is the most
effective solution to the worsening health and environmental hazards due
to bauxite contamination, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi
Yahaya said.
He said there would be great repercussions if bauxite mining operations
were not halted.
As such, Dr Hilmi said, all stakeholders, including the ministry, the
Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Pahang government
should put their heads together to come up with the best possible
solution.
He said the ministry was aware of what was happening, particularly over
bauxite contamination, as it had been monitoring the situation for a
long time and collecting samples for testing.
“The increase in bauxite mining activities in recent times has
contributed to the increase in a number of health complications, such as
respiratory and allergy problems. This is not good in the long run, as
it can lead to cancer.
“Immediate action to address the problem is very much needed.
“The best solution is to shut down the bauxite mines, but there are many
things we have to consider first,” he said here yesterday.
He was commenting on the series of exposes by the New Straits Times on
the matter over the past three days.
The NST ran articles based on
surveys and laboratory findings of contamination in a stream and
seawater off Pahang. Among the findings were elements of heavy metals,
arsenic and radiation, which were tested to be above permissible levels,
when water samples from areas near mining operations were analysed at
an independent laboratory.
Dr Hilmi said the ministry’s findings from the numerous samples tested
were also similar to those highlighted by the NST.
“We have tested various samples. Fish, vegetables, etc. We, too, found
heavy metals and arsenic in some of them.”
Dr Hilmi cautioned the people to be extremely careful when consuming
such fishes and vegetables, adding that they would only know if the
items were contaminated if the samples were tested.
On Wednesday, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob dismissed the
shutting down of bauxite mining operations in the state, stressing that
“issues like loss of income for landowners, mining workers, including
lorry drivers, needed to be considered, too”.
He had, however, stressed that the state government’s main concern was
to protect the health of the people and the environment.
Adnan also
thanked the NST for highlighting the bauxite mining threat issue and
said the reports would help the state government in tackling the problem
and educate the miners to be more careful in their operations.
In Kuantan, Adnan said the state government would base its decision on
the future of bauxite mining here on the investigations of the Atomic
Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
He said the results of an analysis on water, earth and bauxite samples
by AELB would be the determinant as to whether to shut down bauxite
mining operations in the district.
“When AELB’s results are out, hopefully, we will come to a decision. I
have never indicated that the economic stakes are so high that we cannot
act (for the sake of the people),” he said at his office here
yesterday.
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/95112
Friday August 7, 2015 MYT 7:36:17 AM
MB: No halt to bauxite mining
Problem in the air: Workers hosing down vehicles covered in bauxite dust in the Kuantan Port area.
KUANTAN: Pahang cannot immediately
put a stop to bauxite mining because it has to consider those earning a
living off it, says Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
The Mentri Besar said bauxite mining generated economic activities that had spin-off effects in the state.
“For
example, we can see lorry drivers who used to earn RM1,500 to RM2,000 a
month now taking home RM7,000 to RM8,000,” Adnan said at his office
here yesterday.
“Petrol kiosks, workshops and hawkers are also doing good business because of the mining activities.”
Adnan was responding to a news report alleging that unregulated
mining had released radioactive materials into the environment, with
rivers and roads tainted red by lorries transporting bauxite.
Bauxite, or aluminium ore, is the world’s primary source of aluminium.
He
said Felda Bukit Goh settlers had also pleaded with him to allow them
to carry out bauxite mining on their land, located about 50km from
Kuantan Port.
“The problem is in fact very simple. It is caused by
lorry drivers who do not adhere to regulations and who do not have
ethical values.”
“Otherwise, everything will be all right.
“We welcome criticism but at the moment, we are relying on the enforcement efforts of relevant agencies.
“To
date, the Land and Mines Office has seized 125 lorries while the police
have issued 677 summonses,” he said, adding that efforts were in place
to reduce the inconveniences faced by the public.
Police
summonses are for offences like speeding, while the Land Office went
after the lorries for transporting bauxite without permits, or misusing
laterite transportation licences to carry bauxite.
Adnan added
that the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wilfred
Madius Tangau would be visiting the bauxite mines and affected sites on
Monday.
On Wednesday, Adnan said the Department of Environment and
the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) had collected water, soil and
bauxite samples to be tested for radioactivity levels, with results to
be known in a month’s time.
“The question on people’s mind is why
the state government can’t close down everything, but that is a separate
matter. Whatever it is, we will wait for the outcome from the
minister’s visit and AELB’s findings.
Aug 6, 2015
By Bernama
Bauxite mining future to be known after AELB results
The future of bauxite mining
activities in Kuantan will be decided after the result by the Atomic
Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on samples of earth, water, and bauxite
taken from the mining areas is made known.
Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob said it was the right thing for them to wait for the conclusive finding from the analysis, which was expected to be known in a month.
He said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was scheduled to visit several bauxite mining lands in Kuantan on Monday.
"The visit is based on the instruction by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. During the visit, Wan Junaidi will hear briefing by related state agencies.
"I have instructed state secretary (Muhammad Safian Ismail) to prepare the briefing details and for the minister to be brought to Sungai and Pantai Pengorak, Gebeng, and Bukit Goh (where the mining activities take place)," he told reporters in Kuantan, Pahang, today.
Adnan said he and Wan Junaidi were also scheduled to hold a meeting after the visit, to discuss on the next course of action to be taken to solve the situation.
He also clarified that the state government took the matter seriously but could not close down the bauxite mining operations immediately since it also generated income for some people.
This included lorry drivers, workshops owners, and small hawkers around the bauxite mining operation areas, he said.
"I never said that the economic stake is so high until we can't take action but for now, we must also consider the people who are making a living from this.
"The problem is caused by the operators and lorry drivers who do not adhere to the regulations," he said, hoping that a settlement would be found in which everybody's interests would be looked after.
Adnan noted that currently, the state government was relying on enforcement efforts by relevant authorities to reduce problems faced by the public caused by lorries involved in the transportation of bauxite.
For example, Adnan said the state Land and Mines Department had seized 125 lorries while 677 summonses had been issued by the police relating to various offences during the transporting of the mineral.
- Bernama
Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob said it was the right thing for them to wait for the conclusive finding from the analysis, which was expected to be known in a month.
He said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was scheduled to visit several bauxite mining lands in Kuantan on Monday.
"The visit is based on the instruction by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. During the visit, Wan Junaidi will hear briefing by related state agencies.
"I have instructed state secretary (Muhammad Safian Ismail) to prepare the briefing details and for the minister to be brought to Sungai and Pantai Pengorak, Gebeng, and Bukit Goh (where the mining activities take place)," he told reporters in Kuantan, Pahang, today.
Adnan said he and Wan Junaidi were also scheduled to hold a meeting after the visit, to discuss on the next course of action to be taken to solve the situation.
He also clarified that the state government took the matter seriously but could not close down the bauxite mining operations immediately since it also generated income for some people.
This included lorry drivers, workshops owners, and small hawkers around the bauxite mining operation areas, he said.
"I never said that the economic stake is so high until we can't take action but for now, we must also consider the people who are making a living from this.
"The problem is caused by the operators and lorry drivers who do not adhere to the regulations," he said, hoping that a settlement would be found in which everybody's interests would be looked after.
Adnan noted that currently, the state government was relying on enforcement efforts by relevant authorities to reduce problems faced by the public caused by lorries involved in the transportation of bauxite.
For example, Adnan said the state Land and Mines Department had seized 125 lorries while 677 summonses had been issued by the police relating to various offences during the transporting of the mineral.
- Bernama
... sin-money is the root of all evil,suffering and sorrow ...
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