The Health Ministry has rejected three of the five experts nominated by the Cyanine in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC) for a joint panel to probe the health effects of cyanide use in gold mining activities in Bukit Koman, Raub.

NONE In a statement today, BCAC said the trio are renowned international cyanide management and gold mining expert Glenn C Miller, Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad and Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (left) .

It said the ministry’s deputy director-general Dr Lokman Hakim wrote to the committee on Nov 22 last year to explain that the objection to Dzulkefly and Jeyakumar was that they hold political office.

"Hence, (they were) deemed by MOH as unable to be impartial and non-partisan in their expert opinions," reads the statement.

NONE As for Miller, Lokman (right) told the BCAC that, as a foreigner, his involvement would require lengthy bureaucratic approvals which would delay the panel's work.

"The ministry also insisted that the research is an epidemiological study to determine the relationship between the environment and health problem, where only epidemiologists and toxicologists have the role to play," said the group.

Two other nominees - epidemiologist and former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Dr Chan Chee Khoon, as well as environmental engineering expert and former ISA detainee Tan Kah Cheng - have been accepted on the panel.

Group rebuts ministry

BCAC described the ministry's objections as "baseless and unreasonable" because the research is intended to be a scientific and epidemiological study in which the nationality or political inclinations of panel members are not a factor.

NONE It pointed out that Dzulkefly (left) is a trained toxicologist, while Jeyakumar is a cardiologist and that both have extensive experience in public health matters.

On Miller, BCAC said Lokman was previously quoted as saying that he will "accept any candidate nominated by the BCAC" and that the government will appoint foreign experts from the World Health Organisation if BCAC fails to nominate any research candidate.

"So we don't see any reason why Miller's work permit is an issue now," reads the statement.

BCAC also argued that Miller has an extensive resume on cyanide use in gold mining at the international level.

At the time of writing, both Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai and the  ministry’s disease control division director Dr Chong Chee Keong - the key figures behind the joint research panel - have not replied to a request for comments.