MEDIA plays a VERY IMPORTANT role in any country/world in that it is the Medium to communicate different views to the masses ...making the citizenry more knowledgeable about the world they live in - and this encourage the 'discussion process' - where everyone gets involved in thinking and contributing to how we ensure a more JUST and better Malaysia for the future... In any society, the people are the BOSSES and they decide the kind of society they want...Not the 'Prime Minister..not the Cabinet... not the government...and not even the peoples' representatives (MPs/ADUNs).
If MEDIA, by reason of FEAR or FAVOUR just chooses to communicate the views of the Government of the Day or powerful corporations - and not views of dissenters, or those with different views - the MEDIA risk becoming just a TOOL of the government/corporations > it is no longer the INDEPENDENT Media we want and expect...
Syabas Malaysiakini for HIGHLIGHTING this issue and thank you Government for speedily acting by halting mining operations...
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry ordered a halt to the mining operations following an investigation by the Environment Department (DOE).
BUT the question is what will the government then do about this ....Will it be back to 'NORMAL" after the media spotlight is no more.
Will the ENFORCEMENT be strong with charges and TRIALS in the Criminal Court? Or will it all end up with some small 'compounds'? Will the companies be made responsible to clean up the mess it caused to the environment - that is including to the human shareholders?
Will the government help the people whose HEALTH has been affected, or been subject to higher risk than normal be JUSTLY compensated. Will the government HELP the people SUE and claim their RIGHTS to Court? Remember, FINES - than money goes to the government, not the victims...
Environmental NGO Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has demanded an immediate halt to iron ore mining operations, feared to be causing heavy metal contamination in rivers and posing a health risk to a Temiar community downstream from their operation in Bukit Tambun, Gua Musang, Kelantan.
This follows claims by Kampung Kelaik villagers that the rivers had turned a rusty red since mining began over a decade ago, and a recent blood test conducted by Malaysiakini revealed high chromium levels in one of six villagers who volunteered for testing.
“The Health Ministry, the Environment Department and the state government must take urgent action.
“They need to stop the operations of the companies carrying out the iron ore mining immediately and conduct further investigations.
“They also need to provide alternative water supply to the community, since water from the rivers should not be relied on for their basic needs,” SAM president Meenakshi Raman (above) said in a statement yesterday.
A chemical health expert who reviewed the result of the blood tests and water sample test earlier told Malaysiakini there is a likely link to the mining due to the relatively high level of chromium at one mine discharge point.
When asked about other potential sources of contamination, chemical health assessor Vivien How said pesticides used in large-scale plantations in the vicinity of the village could “seep into the soil, contaminate the water, and further enhance environmental burdens”.
Malaysiakini's testing also found that the sample from a pond where tailing sediments were dumped found elevated levels of both chromium-6 (19.4mg/L) and chromium-3 (34.8mg/L).
The permissible levels for both chromium variants are 1.4mg/L and 2.5mg/L respectively for Class III water sources, according to the Department of Environment. Class III refers to rivers that can support aquatic and some human activities with proper treatment.
READ MORE: Heavy metals found in Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining
Cancer risk
The Malaysiakini investigation found a 19-year-old Azlan Ahak from Kampung Kelaik whose blood tests showed abnormally high Chromium levels, with an estimated lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) that far exceeded the normal threshold.
Chemical health assessor How estimates Azlan’s lifetime risk of developing cancer is 64,000 times higher than normal.
How stressed that the findings are red flags, warranting immediate investigation by relevant authorities due to their severe health implications.
Azlan's test results are significant as chromium stays in the body for weeks, if not months, indicating that his exposure was recent, likely occurring just before the test was conducted last month.
Meenakshi expressed shock over the findings and urged the authorities to prioritise the health and safety of the Temiar community, emphasising the need to identify and address the root cause of the poisoning before allowing mining operations to resume.
“Excuses that the companies are operating within the limits of the law cannot be accepted since the community is already suffering severe ill health which must not be condoned any further,” she said.
Operator says it complies with regulations
Malaysiakini contacted both mine operators, Redstar Capital Sdn Bhd and Aqua Orion Sdn Bhd.
The larger of the two mines, Redstar Capital's administration manager, Julice Chu Lai Siong defended the company’s practices adding that media coverage of the issue over the past 10 years had been one-sided.
She said the mine uses a “closed circuit” and “zero discharge” concept where the effluent is recycled into the mine processing, ensuring no effluent wastewater is released into the river.
However, when Malaysiakini visited the mining site, it saw two points where water came out of mining ponds into a stream.
Chu said although Redstar Capital doesn't discharge waste into the river, it still ensures its effluents don't exceed the Minerals and Geoscience Department's set limits of 0.20mg/L for chromium-6 and 0.05mg/L for chromium-3.
She added that Redstar Capital also sends water samples from the rivers near the mine to the JMG and DOE monthly.
She said Redstar Capital has never received complaints from the community about its operations.
The other mine operator, the DOE, the Minerals and Geoscience Department, and the Orang Asli Development Department have yet to respond to Malaysiakini.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said he would instruct this ministry to check the villagers for heavy metals poisoning. Malaysiakini, 11/12/2024
Summary
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry orders two mining companies to halt operations over suspected river pollution near Kelantan Orang Asli village.
Probe finds one mining company operating without an approved environmental impact assessment report for nine years.
Errant miners face mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and a fine up to RM1 million.
A cease-work order has been issued to the two iron ore mining operators suspected of causing pollution in Sungai Kelaik, Gua Musang, Kelantan, which was brought to light in a Malaysiakini exposé last week.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry ordered a halt to the mining operations following an investigation by the Environment Department (DOE).
READ MORE: Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining
Its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said one company - Aqua Orion Sdn Bhd - was found to be operating without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, while the other mine - run by Redstar Capital Sdn Bhd - was found to not be operating.
“Our investigation found that Aqua Orion conducted activities without obtaining approval under Subsection 34A(3).
“An investigation paper will be opened immediately under Subsection 34A(6),” he said in a statement today.
Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) deals with the requirement for an approved EIA report by the DOE director-general, before a company obtains approval from the relevant authority for their intended activities.
Aqua Orion has been operating under a 10-year mining licence that will expire next year, while Redstar Capital has a 21-year mining licence expiring in 2030.
Nik Nazmi said the DOE will issue a letter to the Kelantan State Land and Mines Office requesting that the renewal of Aqua Orion’s mining licence be deferred until the EIA report is submitted for evaluation and approval.
Enforcement action will be taken under Act 127 if project proponents fail to comply with any of the EIA conditions to ensure project implementation minimises and mitigates impacts on environmentally sensitive receptors.
Offenders face mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and a fine ranging from RM100,000 to RM1 million.
Redstar Capital claims compliant with regulations
Malaysiakini had reported that rudimentary iron ore processing was done under shacks with workers manually hosing down the operations with a handheld hose at Aqua Orion.
READ MORE: Red rivers and death: Natives fight iron ore mining in Kelantan rainforest
Aqua Orion ponds were also observed to be dug up routinely to ensure depth and the tailing - refuse from iron ore mining - was dumped at the sides.
When contacted, Redstar Capital said it does not discharge wastewater or effluents into the river and follows all regulations.
This was despite Malaysiakini witnessing water from Redstar Capital’s mining ponds flowing into streams.
Aqua Orion has yet to respond to queries on its mine.
Fears of chromium poisoning
The Malaysiakini report also revealed high levels of chromium - a carcinogenic heavy metal - in the blood of one of six villagers who volunteered for testing.
The youngest of the six who volunteered, 19-year-old Azlan Ahak, had a chromium level that puts him at a lifetime risk of developing cancer at an estimated 64,000 times higher than normal.
Chemical health assessor Vivien How stressed that the findings were red flags, warranting immediate investigation by relevant authorities due to their severe health implications.
Having reviewed the result of the blood tests and water sample test, she told Malaysiakini there was a likely link to the mining due to the relatively high level of chromium at one mine discharge point.
However, How said pesticides used in large-scale plantations near the village could also be a potential source of contamination, as it could “seep into the soil, contaminate the water, and further enhance environmental burdens”.
Following the Malaysiakini exposé last week, villagers said the Health Ministry team comprising officers from Gua Musang and Johor Bharu interviewed the villagers on Dec 16.
Earlier, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed his ministry was investigating the allegations.
The ministry officials also visited the rivers that flowed down from the two mines and the mining sites, said Kampung Kelaik Action Committee leader Ahak Uda.
"They said they will return to take blood samples from all the villagers and a specialist to check our skin lesions," he said via WhatsApp.
Orang Asli's decade-long protest
Last week, PSM pointed out that the Kampung Kelaik Temiar community had been fighting against the iron ore mining on their customary land for over a decade.
PSM Environment, Climate Crisis and Orang Asli Bureau coordinator Suresh Balasubramaniam said they had warned of environmental destruction and health risks to no avail.
In 2015, when the body of a respected community patriarch, Alang Angah, was found trapped among logs and shrubbery swept downriver during a flash flood, the villagers pointed to the mining operation upstream.
At the time, police had probed the matter and the case was closed without any charges.
The
latest blood test results have sparked a fear greater than the threat
of a sudden flash flood - the terrifying possibility that the river
might be poisoning the whole community, Suresh stressed. - Malaysiakini, 18/12/2024
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