Bauxite Mining in Kuantan - Impacted Public Health, Caused Environment Pollution - affecting even fish, vegetation, seafood, Impact also livelihood of people in other sectors - Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, ... [All these matters have been highlighted for a long time now... ]
On or about 6/1/2016, Malaysian Cabinet decides 'Stop for 3 Months' - a Moratorium - starting 15/1/2016.
A victory? A relief for the people of Kuantan? At last, the BN government is concerned about public health and environment - over money and profits?
Wait a Minute - let's look back at the said Cabinet decision again... it seems to be about clearing stockpiles (looks like production of the ore is faster than what could be shipped off...) - and the Cabinet order based on what the relevant Minister said to the media is to clean up stockpiles within 2 months...
It seems like that one of the main reasons seem to be to clear stockpiles....[Natural Resource and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the suspension is part of a moratorium following meetings with the Cabinet, which will require all stockpiles to be cleared first before any future mining can take place.He explained that the three-month moratorium period will also be broken down into three main stages, the first of which will require Kuantan Port to clear all of its stockpile within the first month by exporting them."In the second month, the bauxite mining operators need to start clearing the other 11 stockpiles outside the port."And in the third month, they will need to have the stockpile areas fixed with all the necessary mitigating systems, including a proper drainage system, filtration and washing bays for lorries," he told a press conference at Hotel Istana, here today.
And, the second reason is put in 'mitigation systems' at stockpile areas - no mention about mitigation systems at mining areas?
What about REHABILITATION of the already contaminated land, rivers and seas? This would mean bringing down the arsenic, magnesium, etc levels... Rehabilitation cannot reasonably happen in 3 months - it will take so much longer.
What about the COMPENSATION to the people already affected, and possibly affected in the future by reason of the pollution caused by the mining?
- compensation for the people who have fallen sick
- compensation for the people whose livelihood affected - including the fisher-folk, farmers, those involved in the tourism industry, ...
Now, the impact especially with regard to health, cannot be just looked at people already fallen sick - because the impact can also be long-term - people will fall sick not now but in months and years in the future. [By then the mining operation may be over, and the companies may have moved on - who will bear this later cost?]
Mitigation requirements really should have been in place right from the beginning - not just now....
On 13/1/2016 - Prime Minister allegedly came up with another directive to 'clean up' - and, from news reports, this again is not a call for 'rehabilitation' - but '...cleaning of signboards, electricity poles and road surface...' - This is just a superficial response...to make things look good, and I hope it does not just stop here...
Operation to clean areas affected by mining activities here began today, in line with a directive issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.
Pahang Fire and Rescue director Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yassin said the operation involved more than 100 personnel, including from the department, Kuantan Municipal Council, 21 firemen, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).He said seven high-powered machinery were used in the operation.“For today, the cleaning work will involve roads and residential areas in Jalan Sungai Lembing.“The work involves cleaning of signboards, electricity poles and road surface, he told reporters here today.
Who will be paying for all this? The people or the companies involved in the bauxite mining operations?
I hope that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the BN Malaysian Government, the BN Pahang government,... clarifies matters and assure us that this 'moratorium' is not just about clearing stockpiles, superficial 'clean-ups', putting in place mitigation systems just at stockpiles and not mining areas,... but also about REHABILITATION of the affected environment and also compensating losses already suffered, and putting in place measures to deal with future impacts to health, livelihood, etc..
Malaysia bans bauxite mining for three months amid pollution fears
Posted on 6 January 2016 - 05:58pm
Last updated on 7 January 2016 - 12:13am
Last updated on 7 January 2016 - 12:13am
Workers clean the tires of a lorry carrying bauxite to reduce the dust fallout at Kuantan Port on Jan 6, 2016. BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet today ordered all bauxite mining operations in Pahang to be suspended for three months beginning Jan 15.
Natural Resource and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi
Tuanku Jaafar said the suspension is part of a moratorium following
meetings with the Cabinet, which will require all stockpiles to be
cleared first before any future mining can take place.
He explained that the three-month moratorium period will also be
broken down into three main stages, the first of which will require
Kuantan Port to clear all of its stockpile within the first month by
exporting them.
"In the second month, the bauxite mining operators need to start clearing the other 11 stockpiles outside the port.
"And in the third month, they will need to have the stockpile areas
fixed with all the necessary mitigating systems, including a proper
drainage system, filtration and washing bays for lorries," he told a
press conference at Hotel Istana, here today.
Earlier reports said that the environmental damage as a result of the
mining may be so severe that the ecosystem may take years to recover,
or never do so.
Residents had expressed concern that metals and minerals from the
mining process could end up in rivers, posing serious risks to the
environment and also the people.
It was reported on Jan 3 that the government was pushing to suspend
bauxite mining due to the concerns about its impact on the environment,
until regulations, licensing and environmental protection are put in
place.
"If the industry fails to implement all these requirements within the
three months, we will extend the moratorium period," added Wan Junaidi.
Within the three months, a new integrated, centralised stockpile
facility will also be identified, compared to the present 11, to limit
the movement of lorries in and out of the area.
"By doing this, we can also ensure that only legal operators can
enter the stockpile area, and no more illegal operators," he said.
Wan Junaidi said following the moratorium period, a new comprehensive
plan with various terms and condition will be enforced by the federal
and state government for bauxite mining.
Among the terms, he said, is to issue approved permits (APs) for
export of bauxite to legal operators who complied with the moratorium
and only according to the port capacity.
Wan Junaidi said on average, the port can only handle 26 million tonnes of bauxite for export a year.
"This would ensure that all the stockpiles could be cleared, meaning also fewer lorries," he said.
The government will also work with the relevant authorities,
including the police, armed forces, Road Transport Department (JPJ) and
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), to assist in enforcing the
mining operation and transportation of bauxite.
Meanwhile, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob advised residents to remain calm while action is being taken.
Bauxite mines have been springing up in Malaysia since late 2014,
notably in Kuantan, to meet increasing demand, especially after
Indonesia banned bauxite exports in early 2014.
Bauxite exports in Kuantan contributed RM46.7 million to the state
government through royalty collection in 2015, a marked increase as
compared to RM2.4 million the previous year. - The Sun Daily, 7/1/2015
Kuantan begins operation to clean up areas affected by bauxite mining
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Pahang Fire and Rescue director Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yassin said the
operation involved more than 100 personnel, including from the
department, Kuantan Municipal Council, 21 firemen, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd
and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation
(SWCorp).
He said seven high-powered machinery were used in the operation.
“For today, the cleaning work will involve roads and residential areas in Jalan Sungai Lembing.
“The work involves cleaning of signboards, electricity poles and road surface, he told reporters here today.
Abdul Wahab said the cleaning operation, scheduled for a month, would
also involve 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 the department welcomed non-governmental organisations and volunteer bodies keen to participate in the operation.
Meanwhile, Pahang SWCorp director Datuk Mohd Nor Afandi Abd Aziz said
the company had identified 25 housing areas to be cleaned in the
operation. — Bernama - Malay Mail Online, 14/1/2015
See earlier relevant posts:-