Raub gold mine is safe, says Yen Yen

Tarani Palani | Jun 27, 09 12:44pm Raub MP Ng Yen Yen today said that there is no cause for concern for the villagers of Bukit Koman adding that she had already looked into the matter three years ago.

MCPX

“I met the residents, I met the committee, I brought up the specialist to see them, everything had been done (three years ago),”

She added that she had maintained her silence on the matter because when “people refuse to listen to scientific facts, one cannot talk reason”.

Villagers of Kampung Bukit Koman are facing health and environment problems after a gold mine operator started using cyanide in the extraction method in February.

The villagers reportedly began experiencing headaches, breathing difficulties and skin irritation after the company, Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd (RAGM) began using cyanide in their operations.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, T Murugiah, on Thursday had given the green light to RAGM for the usage of cyanide in the mining process.

Ng said that the matter was closed with Murugiah’s statement.

She said despite her consultation with the residents, “they still went on and on and on”.

Environmental hazards

“First, they brought some environmentalist, and spoke about the environmental hazards. Then, they focused on health issues. I have already spoken to the hospital in Raub and there are no cases (caused by cyanide effects)”

Citing an example of the resident’s unyielding attitude, she said that she had taken the residents to Banjong in order to observe a gold mine there. There were various live forms around the area such as fish and plants.

“There were some fish in the area. If there are traces of cyanide, the fish will die first. But the fish were still there.”

When Ng had pointed this out to the residents, they had answered: “(We think) the fish were just placed there (a moment ago), as a gimmick to mislead the residents.”

The Star had reported on Thursday that during Murugiah’s meeting at the state Public Complaints Bureau headquarters in Teruntum complex on Thursday, a few opposition representatives were present rather than the affected residents themselves.

Responding to this, Ng asked why there was a need to politicise a scientific matter.

When pressed further on the matter, she asked journalists to speak to the affected residents themselves and suggested they do their own neutral research. --- Malaysiakini