This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 15, 2016.
KUANTAN: The operation to clean areas affected by bauxite mining activities here began yesterday, in line with a directive issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Wednesday.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin said the operation involves more than 100 people, including personnel from the department, Kuantan Municipal Council, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corp (SWCorp).
He said seven high-powered machinery are used in the operation.
“For today (yesterday), the cleaning work will involve roads and residential areas in Jalan Sungai Lembing. The work involves cleaning of signboards, electricity poles and road surfaces,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Abdul Wahab said the cleaning operation, scheduled to last for a month, would also involve Jalan Kuantan-Pelabuhan, Jalan Bukit Goh, Jalan Bukit Kuantan, Jalan Kuantan Bypass, Jalan Gebeng Bypass, Jalan Jerangau Jabor and Jalan Bukit Sagu-Cherul.
He said the department welcomes non-governmental organisations and volunteer bodies keen to participate in the operation.
Pahang SWCorp director Datuk Mohd Nor Afandi Abd Aziz said the company had identified 25 housing areas to be cleaned in the operation.
In a statement, the Coalition for Action Against Bauxite Pollution said that instead of using public funds, the prime minister must compel companies that have reaped profits from bauxite mining to bear the costs of cleaning up the pollution effects.
Coalition chairman Fuziah Salleh said the clean-up costs should come from the pockets of mining concessionaires, transport companies that move around the mined bauxite piles, and companies with AP (approval permit) licence to export the aluminium ore, The Malaysian Insider reported.
“They should be made to bear some social responsibility and carry out the cleaning as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts,” Fuziah added. — Bernama/The Malaysian Insider