The Ban Cyanide Action Committee (BCAC) has been given another "two to three weeks" to locate an independent health expert to take part in a joint research team with the Health Ministry.

The committee was supposed to have secured a foreign public health expert to join the team by yesterday but funding problems have delayed this.

This was revealed during BCAC's meeting in Putrajaya today with a Health Ministry team led by disease control unit director Dr Chong Chee Keong.

Formed last month, the joint committee is charged with investigating alleged health problems suffered by Bukit Koman residents as a result of the use of cyanide in the gold extraction process of a neighbouring goldmine.

NONE Speaking to reporters after the two-hour meeting, BCAC adviser Tan Hui Chun ( left in picture ) said the committee could not afford a foreign expert because the Health Ministry only provided partial funding.

"Looks like we have to get the funds ourselves," she said.

‘Get a local expert instead'

bukit koman mining lake 310107 Contacted later, Chong said the ministry could not assist the BCAC in seeking a foreign expert and instead recommended that it employs a local one instead.

"We have so many experts in the country, they don't necessarily need to look for a foreign expert," he added.

Chong also denied BCAC's claim that his team had admitted during the meeting that there was an "abnormal" amount of health problems in Bukit Koman.

He said he had presented some statistics during the meeting, which showed  that 60 out of 200 residents who sought treatment were suffering from "minor skin problems".

Chong was unable to recall whether he had uttered the word "abnormal", but stressed that he had agreed that the ministry would look into the matter.

Both parties will meet again on Oct 18.