Federal govt to discuss bauxite ban with Pahang by hemananthani...

Federal govt to discuss bauxite ban with Pahang

by hemananthani sivanandamandhanis zainal



KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resource and Environment Ministry will discuss with the Pahang state government on the proposal to ban the export of bauxite.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he understood the concerns and problems faced by Kuantan residents due to unregulated mining of bauxite in the area.

In his ministry's wind up of the 2016 Budget, Wan Junaidi said he agreed with the proposal by PKR's Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh on stopping the export of bauxite.

Fuziah asked if the ministry can stop issuing the export license for bauxite until a study on the impact to the health and environment is done.

Wan Junaidi said he agreed that the industry would come to a halt is exports were stopped.

"I agree with your idea YB but to stop the bauxite activities, there needs to be a discussion between the Federal and State governments.

"God willing, we will bring this matter up with the state government soon," he said.

It was reported that bauxite mining in the district had gone out of control.

In August, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the state government could not immediately put a stop to bauxite mining as it had to consider those earning a living off it.

Adnan said bauxite mining generated economic activities that had spin-off effects in the state.





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Putrajaya to push for temporary suspension of bauxite exports from Pahang, minister says

BY JOSEPH SIPALAN
Published: November 16, 2015 06:30 PM GMT+8



Earlier this month when raising a petition seeking Parliament’s intervention on the issue, PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said an estimated 44 companies are exporting some 15 million tonnes of bauxite out of Pahang to China each month. — Reuters pic


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — The federal government today agreed to a suggestion to temporarily suspend the export of bauxite from Pahang until proper regulations are in place to keep the industry in check.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he is agreeable to the suggestion made by PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, though he stressed that this would require the buy in from Pahang state government.

“We will meet with the state government to discuss the matter,” he said when winding up points raised during the Budget 2016 debate.

Earlier when interjecting, Fuziah stressed that Pahang’s capital city of Kuantan is suffering from heavy pollution caused by illegal mining operations that have mushroomed to meet high demand for the mineral.

She claimed that mining activities have also left a large amount of dust that has allegedly led to a spike in the number of asthma attacks and skin disease among children in the area.

Bauxite is an aluminium ore and considered the world’s main source of the metal.

Earlier this month when raising a petition seeking Parliament’s intervention on the issue, Fuziah said an estimated 44 companies are exporting some 15 million tonnes of bauxite out of Pahang to China each month.

She claimed then that there are numerous loopholes that companies can exploit to cash in on the growing industry at the expense of Kuantan’s air and water quality and its surrounding environment.