Raub gold mine gets nod to carry on

KUANTAN: Gold-mining activities using cyanide in Bukit Koman, Raub, have been given the green light to proceed, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah.

He said the decision was reached after taking into consideration environment and health reports from the state.

He said all complaints and concerns raised by residents about the usage of cyanide had been addressed by the authorities.

“As such, I do not see why we should issue a stop-work order on the gold-mining activities.

“If the residents can furnish proof that their health is at risk, we will take prompt action,” he said after chairing a meeting on public complaints at the state Public Complaints Bureau headquarters in Teruntum Complex yesterday.

Murugiah was disappointed that none of the affected residents turned up for the meeting except for a few representatives from an opposition party.

In detailing the reports, he said the noise level emitted from the mine was within the permissible level of 55dBA.

“Samples taken from rivers and underground water showed there were no traces of poison and that it is safe for human consumption.

“Interviews and medical check-ups conducted on 246 residents in March showed they were all healthy except for six who complained of headache and dizziness,” he said, adding that health officers confirmed that their sickness was not due to the effects of cyanide.

The authorities, he said, would continue to monitor the situation and conduct periodical checks on the water quality, environment and health of the residents.

Next week, he would meet residents and inspect the mine.

“I was told that the nearest house to the mine was 600m away which is in compliance with the Environment Department requirements,” he said.

Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd director Datuk Azinudin Abd Rahim, who was also present, said they had invested RM80mil for the entire project and adhered to international safety standards.

He said the mine started operations in February, providing em-ployment to 170 workers, mostly locals.

“If health is the issue, then our workers will be the first to experience sickness. To date, we have no workers falling sick as all precautionary measures are in place,” he said.