Illegal bauxite mining is unstoppable despite moratorium in Pahang

Despite a year and a half-long ban on bauxite mining, the exports of bauxite are mounting for months in Pahang. The illegal mining activities, unless regulated, will continue in the future. The moratorium on bauxite mining in Pahang is currently in place until December 31, 2017.

Malay daily Berita Harian’s investigations for over a week showed that the illegal activity is still taking place in Kuantan. A local trader said that the bauxite mining had “never stopped” in spite of bauxite mining ban.

Also, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) remanded nine men over illegal bauxite mining activities. “The MACC had also raided the Pahang’s PTG Office, Customs Department and the Kuantan Port to obtain several documents related to the investigation,” the Bernama news agency reported.

The commission had detained 18 lorries transporting bauxite from illegal mines around Bukit Goh and Bukit Sagu.

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Recently, Fuziah Salleh, a member of parliament, said, “For the last six months, we’ve received reports from residents about the presence of fresh excavations. That is why the volumes of the stockpiles do not go down.”

It was reported that 5.8 million tonnes of bauxite has been exported from Malaysia as of June 8.