Wednesday September 19, 2012

MB: Opposition blowing up Bukit Koman mining issue

KUANTAN: The Bukit Koman cyanide gold mining issue is not a health issue but a political one, said Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

He said the Opposition was blowing the issue up to garner support when in fact the cyanide traces had been shown to be negligible.

“It is a propaganda move. They even used a woman, who claimed to be sick due to cyanide, but she has been ill since 15 years ago while the gold mining has only been in operation for five years,” Adnan told the state assembly here yesterday.

“It is the same with the Lynas issue. If Kuantan has become so dangerous, why is nobody selling their house and land? Why has the Government allowed an independent Chinese secondary school to open?” he asked.

Adnan added that the state government would monitor the issue and when the time comes, it would hold a celebration to show there was no such thing as cyanide sickness.

In responding to a question from Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN-Padang Tengku), state Local Government, Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said it was not true that 78% of Bukit Koman residents suffered from various cyanide-caused illnesses as claimed.

“Based on the Health Department's report, only 24.3% have health problems,” he said.

Hoh added that the Health Ministry was preparing a more detailed investigation to determine the true cause of the health woes.

Meanwhile, the state assembly approved a Supplementary Supply 2012 Bill that was tabled by Adnan requesting for an additional RM63.37mil for expenses on services, emoluments, grants and fixed payments.

Also approved was the Bank Loans 2012 Bill, which allowed the state government to borrow from banks and other financial institutions.

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