Some 20 families in Felda Sendayan near Seremban have reached a dead-end in their efforts to resolve several long-standing issues, including one that appears to be an accident waiting to happen.

In March, a contractor began operations at a sand mine near their homes, disrupting farming activities and causing concern to parents about the safety of their children.

The residents have attempted to take their troubles to the relevant government agencies, but have been stymied by lack of action from all concerned including Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Having exhausted all "proper channels", the residents have now turned to the opposition for help to resolve this and other issues.

Group spokesperson Abdul Halim Jaafar said the residents are extremely frustrated by the lack of response from government agencies despite countless letters, phone calls and police reports.

"We have been given the runaround for two months now. No one from the district office, the land offices in Nilai and Seremban, or the state secretariat wants to hear us out," he claimed.

"Several DID officers, however, visited the site early last month and supported our objections in writing.

People's problem

Following this, he said, the group filed a complaint with the ACA office in Seremban and Putrajaya, and sent appeal letters to Mohamad and Abdullah.

The police interviewed them and they had met the menteri besar three times, but this was the extent to which any interest has been shown in their predicament.

Abdul Halim said the residents decided to raise the issue only after the March 21 general election for fear of the issue being politicised before then.

"Many people are afraid to voice their grievances for fear of being labelled as rebels. For example, despite our genuine concern as residents and parents, some of us have been labelled as opposition members," said Abdul Halim, a smallholder.

"I'm an Umno member, but I've decided to seek the opposition's help because this is a people's problem. I don't wish to politicise it. We want the matter resolved because this is our home and our land.

"The state government as well as the village and local political leaders have washed their hands off our problems."

He said the sand mine poses a great danger to children who frequent the area.

"They used to play in the stream adjacent to a durian orchard every day after school," he told malaysiakini during a recent visit to the settlement which is a 10-minute drive from Seremban.

"I shudder to think what would happen if anyone, especially children, were to fall into the huge pit at night or after the workers leave the site."

Apart from blocking the stream, said Abdul Halim, the mining activity has also diverted the flow of water into a holding pond before trickling out the other end.

There were no perimeter fencing or barriers to prevent unauthorised entry into the area. An excavator was dumping sand onto several transport trucks. Several men were seen working in and around the main pit, estimated to be about 100m wide and 30m deep.

The digging has also created several smaller ponds of murky, muddy water around the main pit.

The smallholders have been forced to pump water from a different source as the mining has disrupted water flow. Their expenses have increased from RM1,500 to RM2,000 a month as a result.

The Sendayan residents have raised concerns over the health risks posed by a nearby toxic waste treatment plant. They are also tied up in a legal tussle with the state government over land ownership issue.

No licence conditions

Questions have also been raised about the granting of the licence, with residents alleging that the state had bypassed the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) without imposing certain conditions.

"When we finally got to meet the MB, who is also the state assemblyperson for this area, he informed us that, if the mine were closed, the state may be forced to face legal action by the concessionaire," said Abdul Halim.

Residents suspect that the state exco has circumvented the DID in granting the licence.

Contacted today however, DID director-general Keizrul Abdullah explained that the state has the ultimate power to grant, revoke or cancel a licence to extract any type of mineral from the ground.

"Before granting a licence, the state, through the district office, will seek expert or technical input from the relevant departments, depending on the mineral in question," he said.

"Normally, the state incorporates the recommended guidelines as part of the licensing conditions."

Keizrul said the licensee is also required to pay a premium for extracting any mineral (sand is a mineral) from the ground, and a certain sum as a security deposit.

"The DID will study if the proposed site is suitable for sand mining. For example, we would not allow only one part of a river to be mined because it would alter the flow and cause other disruptions to the surrounding area."

He said the DID would then propose the guidelines accordingly and advise the land office which will decide whether or not to issue a licence.

"Ultimately, it is the state that decides which guidelines to impose, if not all those recommended by the DID," he said.

Neither Mohamad, the Negri Sembilan state secretary nor the mine concessionaire could be reached for comments today.