GRIK FOLK LIVING IN FEAR
They claim Sungai Rui pollution causing skin disease
HUNDREDS of villagers in the district here are living in fear following the discovery of arsenic elements in Sungai Rui.
The villagers claimed although they had known the 60km-long river was heavily polluted for many years, they were not aware that arsenic, which poses severe health risks to humans, was among the contaminants.
They pointed their fingers at the nearby mining operations, saying four to five mining sublets believed to be owned by a company were operating illegally in Pengkalan Hulu.
The villages affected by the river pollution are Kampung Baru Sungai Rui, Kampung Batu 6, Kampung Kerunai, Kampung Jong, Kampung Parit, Kampung Batang Senang, Kampung Besia, Kampung Besia Lama, Kampung Bandariang and Kampung Bongor.
Kampung Baru Sungai Rui villager Yeong Lim Leng said the riverwater, which had turned murky and been in a poor condition for the last 10 years, had worsened.
The 66-year-old believed mining activities about 30km from his village were the main cause of the pollution.
“The water has been murky for a long time. Sometimes, it is reddish when it rains.
“Dead fish could be seen floating when the mining factory released water.”
Yeong said he believed that the mining company, which has been operating for more than 100 years, failed to filter the water before releasing it into the river.
Osman Ahmad, 70, from Kampung Bongor, said he had
been suffering from skin disease for many years. He believed it was linked to the polluted river, where he fished frequently.
“One day, I noticed my skin had started peeling. Soon the affected area turned white.
“I am not sure how I got it, but I believe it is caused by pollutants in the river.
“I am getting medication from a skin specialist at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh,” he said, adding that some of his friends also had skin disease.
Villagers claimed the polluted river caused fish mortality and a decline in fish population, especially “loma” fishes (tiny scale barbs), which is abundant between August and November.
Jamaliah Osman, 43, from Kampung Batu 6, said during those months, the scene at Sungai Rui was like a featival, where avid anglers from as far as Kelantan, Penang and Kedah joined the locals to fish.
“Hundreds of kilogrammes of lomas were caught, which were sold to dealers who processed it into pekasam (fermented fish).
“However, it’s a different story now.
“The catch has dwindled over the past four years. You could see hundreds of dead loma fish floating in the water. The murky water looks like coffee,” she said.
Khalid Ismail, 60, from Kampung Bandariang, said he hoped the authorities could do something about this so that it wouldn’t replicate the incident in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang.
The state government has formed a special task force to check the pollution in Sungai Rui.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had called for the setting up of the task force, following reports that it had been contaminated with arsenic elements.
The task force, led by the Perak Water Board, will be working with the Perak Drainage and Irrigation Department to monitor the quality of the river.