KUANTAN: FOR some settlers in Felda Bukit Kuantan, the moratorium imposed by the cabinet since Jan 15 should have put a temporary halt on bauxite-mining activities here.
But little did they know that mining activities in their area are still actively going on.
“At first, I thought the lorries are clearing the remaining stockpiles in the oil palm plantation.
“But when they continued transporting the bauxite few months after the moratorium was imposed, I realised that the mining activities are still being carried out,” said a settler when met recently.
He also claimed that reports lodged on the activities seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Since the extended moratarium will only end on Dec 31, he said, miners were using a back road to transport the mineral.
“It clearly shows that they are breaching the moratorium and
stern action must be taken against them.”
A second-generation settler, who is in his 40s, blamed the lack of enforcement and supervision by agencies for the mining activities.
He said heavy presence of enforcement officers was seen only during the first and second phase of the moratorium from Jan 15 to April 14 and from April 15 to July 15.
“Their presence prompted the miners to slow down their activities but now, the enforcement officers can hardly be seen,” he said.
On Jan 14, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Azizan Ahmad announced that enforcement authorities would be stationed at several locations to ensure compliance by all parties.
He said legal action would be taken against those who breached the moratorium.
A settler, who was reluctant to talk at first, called on the government to find a solution to the problem.
“I think the prolonged moratorium had left miners with no choice but to do it (bauxite-mining) secretly,” she said.
Pahang Lands and Mines director Datuk Nazri Abu Bakar said they would act against any parties involved in illegal mining of bauxite at Felda Bukit Kuantan.
When contacted yesterday, Nazri said they were investigating the
case and would refer it to the
state Deputy Public Prosecutor Office for further action.
He said the state agency would take immediate action, including seizing heavy vehicles and mining equipment used in illegal mining activities.
On Nov 3, a group of Felda Bukit Kuantan villagers had complained about their dirt roads being damaged by lorries carting away bauxite at night.
Checks by the NST Team two days ago revealed that the mining activities had created bare reddish hill slopes and flat plains in the interior of the oil palm plantation.
In Kuching, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he had directed the relevant agencies under the ministry to collaborate with the state government to investigate the claims.
“I hope to receive the full report on the issue by next week,” he said after handing over football jerseys to 24 recipients at his office here yesterday.
On Pahang Mining Operators Association’s claims that the prolonged moratorium was not good for the state’s economy, Wan Junaidi said he would discuss the matter with the local authority and state government.
He said the ministry would gather feedback from the agencies involved and the stakeholders before presenting the next course of action in the next cabinet meeting.