The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Only Paka type lorries allowed to transport bauxite — Liow

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BENTONG: The Transport Ministry has specified that only Pakamatic (Paka) type lorries will be permitted to transport bauxite ore after the threemonth moratorium on bauxite mining starting Jan 15 ends in April.

Its minister Datuk Seri Liow Ting Lai said it is one of the matters contained in the bauxite transporta­tion guidelines set by the ministry in order to avoid pollution problems from recurring.

"We have already given clear guidelines to the lorry drivers that only Paka type lorries will be allowed to transport bauxite.

"This is because this type of lorries can transport bauxite without spilling it on the road like the usual lorries used previously," he told reporters when met at a Chinese New Year event in Batu 1, Jalan Tras here.

In addition, he said all lorries would only be allowed to use a specific route to transport the mineral to the stockpilin­g centre which will be determined soon.

"We have also decided not to store the bauxite at Kuantan Port. We do not want the port to be littered with bauxite spills.

"We have asked the Kuantan Port authoritie­s to limit the bauxite amount stored in the port area. For example, if it can only accommodat­e 1.5 million tonnes, they can only receive that much," he said.

Liow, who is also Bentong MP, said the move was to ensure that the port and the surroundin­g areas are not polluted with bauxite as was the case before.

He said the guidelines and clearer control measures will be distribute­d to the parties concerned by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad after he has finalised and streamline­d operations with relevant agencies.

"We at the ministry level have prepared clear guidelines on bauxite transporta­tion which will be given to the bauxite mine operators.

"However, it should be discussed in the secretaria­t together with other department­s and agencies concerned headed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmen­t," said Liow. - Bernama

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