Unlike the Lynas issue, which involved an Australian company, this bauxite issue involves FELDA settlers, local land owners, and local businesses, all of whom likely to be voters. Hence, the possible reason in the perceived 'double standards' when it comes to a response.
The Lynas issue was really about potential risk sometime in the future... BUT with regard the Kuantan bauxite mining issue, it is no more a case of future risk; people are already being affected - even the Health Ministry did say so...
“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.... -Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya
See earlier posts:-
Red Threat - Are Malaysians still being poisoned with arsenic, etc because government not bothered?
Pahang:- Fish high arsenic levels? - Suspend Bauxite Mining Now - Health More Important than Money??
Bauxite Mining Pahang:Seafood and Vege from Kuantan?Arsenic/Magnesium Poisoning? Safe for Consumption?
It has been shown that even fish in nearby rivers have been found to be no more safe for human consumption. '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...
But, the problem is that politicians and political parties, even our Opposition parties, are sometimes just concern about votes come the next elections - and as such, can and will make, bad or unjust choices... some of which is not good for the well being and welfare of all in Malaysia and Malaysia as an whole...
So, in this case is the worry about the FELDA votes?
Rationally, let us look at the people that the Kuantan bauxite issue will affect
1- The ordinary people living in the area ; well, if fish are already showing higher levels of arsenic in their body, and cockles have been dying - what do you think about the ordinary people living in the area. Remember, many of these consequences will surface not now but later... like cancer, etc.
2- Malaysians and others, all over the country, who have been inadvertently eating 'contaminated dangerous fish, seafood, vegetables, poultry, meat products, etc 'that come from these affected areas - those containing arsenic(which is poisonous), etc [Remember the government is yet to stop fishing or the movement of these products, and the government also is doing the needful to assure us that these that we buy at our markets, farmers markets and supermarkets are indeed safe food fit for consumption. Where does it comes from?]
3 - Fisherfolk - they will all be severely affected - how long really doe it take to clean up our rivers and seas to rid it of the 'contamination' caused by this bauxite mining...??
4 - Agriculture - well, this will affect farmers, fisherfolk, related industries, retailers, etc ; and there are a LOT of people
5 - Tourism - Well, the beaches are already affected, and bathing in such waters will cause problems? Then, let us not forget the 'red dust' all over the place... I, for sure, will not be bathing anytime soon in the Kuantan seas...
POLITICIANS, STOP WORRYING ABOUT VOTES - WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ARE A BIGGER CONCERN...
Call for bauxite licences in Felda scheme
After settlers run into problems clearing land, committee urges state to help
KUANTAN: The Pahang government has been urged to issue bauxite mining
licences to 32 contractors who have made deals with settlers of Felda
Bukit Goh to carry out mining on their land.
Bukit Goh Bauxite Coordinating Committee chairman Abd Wahid Abd Manaf
said problems would arise for settlers who had signed agreements with
contractors to mine bauxite on their plantations.
“Generally, the settlers have felled their oil palm trees and dug up
their plantation (to facilitate bauxite mining).
“If it is stopped and
licences are not issued, their source of income will be badly
curtailed,” he said.
He told this to reporters after holding a closed-door dialogue with
bauxite entrepreneurs and settlers of Felda Bukit Goh at the Felda Bukit
Goh Community Hall here Saturday.
— BERNAMA
3 August 2015 @ 1:33 PM KUANTAN:
Radioactive contamination from the aggressive mining of bauxite
in Pahang will put local communities in danger.
Geochemistry and marine radiochemistry expert Professor Dr Che Abd Rahim
Mohamed said the early stages of radioactive contamination in Sungai
Pengorak and Pantai Pengorak, near Kampung Selamat, were exposing
villagers to health risks.
“Prolonged exposure to polluted water and red dust from bauxite mining
can increase the risk of developing cancer.
“As we breathe, residues from the bauxite will fill our lungs and create
blockage, and can lead to cancer.
“There is a serious risk to marine life, too.
“The red dust will clog the gills of fish, causing them to suffocate and
die.”
Rahim said the effects of overexposure to the red dust that contained
radioactive elements (surface elements) would be known only when it
affected the skin, respiratory system and genes.
“The Asian Rare Earth plant in Ipoh, which was closed down when the
radioactive waste was proven to be hazardous to the public, is a good
example.
“There are cases of people who live near the area who suffered genetic
defects that led to stunted growth.”
Rahim said the nutrient-rich run-off from bauxite would enter waterways,
triggering a bloom of harmful microalgae in the area.
“A high concentration of iron will encourage microalgae to bloom.
“Fish and other marine life will eat the toxic microalgae, causing them
to be contaminated as well.
“Prolonged consumption of contaminated marine life will expedite the
effects of radioactive and heavy metal poisoning in humans.
“We have cases in Sabah and Kelantan, where people were poisoned after
eating marine life contaminated by microalgae bloom.
“Bathing in waters with a high content of microalgae will also cause
itchiness,” he said, adding that the abundance of nutrients would
attract jellyfish to the area.
Rahim said iron and manganese sediments from bauxite would settle on top
of shellfish, such as cockles, and disrupt their respiratory process.
“Photos (taken by the team) showing hundreds of dead cockles at the
seashore prove that the sea was heavily polluted due to mining
activities.
“The dark red colour is also one of the signs that the water had been
contaminated with iron.”
Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah recently
raised his concern over illegal bauxite mining in the district and urged
the authorities to take action against the culprits.
He said lax enforcement had resulted in illegal miners becoming bold and
greedy.-New Straits Times, 3/8/2015, ‘Long-term exposure will put villagers’ health at risk’
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