The Health Ministry has always monitored closely the health of Bukit Koman residents in Raub over claims that the gold mine in the area had affected their health.  

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the area had been consistently monitored since 2009.   

“The residents need not worry as the Health Ministry is with them in seeking the cause of their problems.  

“We will conduct a detailed study to identify the root of the ailments,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, to deny allegations by certain parties that the ministry was treating the residents’ claims of cyanide poisoning from the gold mine lightly.   

Liow explained that a baseline health study team had been formed by the ministry on July 12 to scrutinise the ailments afflicting the Bukit Koman residents.

The team, chaired by Health deputy director-general Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, is also collaborating with an anti-cyanide group, Pahang Raub Anti-Cyanide Gold Mining Committee (BCAC), he added.

“The anti-cyanide group has agreed to appoint specialists to carry out the study. They also said they had conducted a study which showed 78 percent (383 individuals) of the Bukit Koman residents had apparently fallen ill due to the cyanide used at the gold mine,” he said.

The ministry and BCAC had held a follow-up meeting on Aug 13 but to date the ministry has not received any feedback on the said study.

“I hope they really care about this issue and don't delay in sending their representative. We want to conduct this investigation together immediately because we want an independent, transparent and accountable study,” he said.

Liow said that although the monitoring in the area showed the number of reported patients were the same as elsewhere, last month it was found that 60 of the 200 people receiving treatment had skin problems.

Meanwhile, the Himpunan Hijau group which is against the rare earth Lynas plant in Gebeng, is also reportedly having a gathering in Bukit Koman this Sunday to protest against the gold mine there.  

- Bernama