Safety, environment take a back seat in bauxite mining
Selangor branch of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is disappointed that the water, land and natural resources minister has decided to lift the moratorium on bauxite mining in Pahang.
The primary motivation appears to be the high market demand for bauxite and the economic gains to be made from it. The environment, public health and safety are secondary considerations.
Although the minister has indicated that there would be new standard operating procedures (SOP) and tighter regulations, the people have yet to be informed what they are and how different they are from previous and existing safeguards.
As far back as 2016, SOP such as requiring bauxite to be transferred via safer pakamatic lorries, rerouting lorries to avoid populated areas and setting up a bauxite stockpiling centre failed to stop industry players and enforcement agencies from flouting the regulations.
What assurance is there this time that the SOP would be adhered to?
Further, the proposed fine of RM500,000 and three months’ jail under the Pahang State Mineral Enactment 2001 is lenient.
There appears to be no prerogative afforded to enforcement bodies to shut down and ban industry players flouting the SOP.
We must not lose sight of the reason why the moratorium was imposed.
Intensive bauxite mining and processing caused contamination of water sources, air and soil, and an increase in health complaints, particularly respiratoryrelated, from residents.
The environmental and scientific community also reported that bauxite mining had resulted in the leaching of toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium, into rivers, poisoning fish and aquatic life and posing a danger to fishing and coastal communities.
The people have not been informed of how wastewater and other waste materials from bauxite mining will be treated and disposed of.
This raises concerns that there will be a growth in illegal dumping ground for the waste. News reports indicate that the Pahang Mineral Operators Association would regulate its members and activities.
This will again raise the question of how objective, neutral and effective they will be, considering that they did not demonstrate commitment to environmental protection and public health and safety in 2015 and 2016 prior to the moratorium.
There must be greater opportunity and space for civil society groups and environmental organisations to participate in the monitoring and reporting process, and independent environmental auditors must be engaged to inspect and report on bauxite mining and exporting.
Selangor MNS is not against development or state governments managing their natural resources to maintain growth.
We are, however, in favour of the responsible management of natural resources and greater transparency and accountability.
Economic growth cannot be sustainable if it comes at the expense of the environment and public health and safety.