Wan Junaidi cites lack of rules for slow reaction to Pahang bauxite crisis

A lack of regulations and coordination among government agencies were the main reasons why Putrajaya was slow to respond to the Pahang bauxite mining crisis, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar admitted today.

He also said the state lacked thorough procedures to deal with bauxite mining.

“Kemaman MP also had been pushing me every week to carry out the decision made by the Cabinet but I had to discuss with all the stakeholders, I have to be careful with the way I step. The delay did happen, I don’t deny what is said.

“Secondly, we don’t have the best procedures, the best practice was not there. Another thing there were no rules for transportation, no rules for the stockpile… there were no rules at all. There were some guidelines,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat here.

He said the moratorium on bauxite mining could be extended to ensure the issue was dealt with properly, depending on the feedback by industry players and the state.

Residents of Pahang had reportedly been affected by bauxite mining pollution for over two years before the moratorium was called into effect in January. Following public backlash over health and environmental concerns last December, the federal government suspended bauxite mining in Pahang for three months to ensure a full clean-up and review of regulations.

The operation to clean up the areas involve more than 100 personnel, including from the department, Kuantan Municipal Council, firemen, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation.

Wan Junaidi previously said that the amount of ore stored at the port had been reduced from more than three million tonnes to 2.4 million tonnes after the moratorium was enforced on January 15.

The Pahang Mineral Operators Association reportedly claimed operators have suffered a loss of RM800 million since the government imposed a moratorium on bauxite mining activities.