A group of residents in Raub, Pahang, and 16 NGOs are protesting against Sunday's Himpunan Hijau Raub rally protesting the use of cyanide by a gold mine in Bukit Koman, claiming that it is politically motivated.

Malay daily Sinar Harian reported today that more than 300 residents and the NGOs have submitted a memorandum to Raub OCPD Wan Mohd Samsudin Wan Osman opposing the rally.

Raub Youth Council chairperson Salahuddin Abdul Rahim is quoted in the memorandum as saying that protecting the interests of residents was not the main purpose of the rally.

"Even though they can hold the rally according to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, we ask the police to monitor it so that the organisers will obey the rules that they have agreed to," Salahuddin says.

Meanwhile, another Malay daily, Berita Harian , also quotes Salahuddin as saying that the operations of the Raub Australian Gold Mining should be supported because it creates job opportunities.

He is also quoted as saying that allegations about cyanide use by the mine causing skin diseases are untrue, and that the area had seen no disease caused by exposure to cyanide since the mine started operating in 2009.