Expert urges Malaysian govt to review three-month ban on bauxite mining

The long term damage caused by unregulated bauxite mining activities can negatively impact Malaysia's tourism sector, observed Prof Dr Ahmad Puad Mat Som dean of Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA).

"Bauxite mining has caused damages to the environment and locals especially to restaurant operators and fishermen that have affected their income and economy and has created a negative perception among tourists about Malaysia," Ahmad Puad said in a recent interview.

On 15 January the government had issued an order to stop all mining activities for 3 months to enable the cleaning up process to begin. However, Ahmad Puad urged the government to seriously consider the long term damage of the polluting industry on the tourism sector.

"Due to this, our tourism industry have a hard time to get repeat tourists if the issue is not solved. Based on research, there are tourists who have said they will not return to Malaysia especially to the polluted tourist sites. Tourism is very reliant on the environment. We have a symbiotic relationship with the environment. We must take care of the environment to promote tourism," he asserted.

While sayig this, Ahmad Puad also asserted that the 3 months suspension is not enough because of the severity of the damage caused and the government should take more proactive measures in order to bring the affected areas back to life.