The Ching Beng Festival in Raub, Pahang took on new meaning today when environmentalists launched their anti-cyanide campaign at the local Sempalit New Cemetery.

The Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC) kicked off its GE13 volunteers programme by distributing leaflets, stickers and banners to people observing the Chinese religious festival.

bukit koman ban cyanide awareness campaign during chingming 310313 01 The group, which wants the use of the deadly cyanide use in the neighbouring Bukit Koman gold mine halted, is urging the people to vote out BN in order to put a stop to their  environmental problems.

“The people must rise to fight for justice and to defeat the BN regime that approved all these... industries.

“BCAC urges all Raubians, especially those who work far away from home, to do their utmost to return and vote in the coming general election to realise a cleaner and greener environment for all Malaysians,” the NGO said in a statement today.

The group said their awareness drive today to support Pakatan Rakyat, which has promised to ban cyanide use should it come to power, received “overwhelming response”.

bukit koman ban cyanide awareness campaign during chingming 310313 05 “Leaflets, stickers and banners were in short supply due to the overwhelming response.

“Residents also inquired about the Ban Cyanide GE13 volunteers, so that they can join as volunteers to contribute in delivering the message to every corner of the villages,” the group said.

Their activity today, held when the Chinese honour their ancestors at their graves, was symbolic as they wanted to remind the people of Raub to be "never unworthy of our ancestors and stop the scourge (of cyanide use) for (the sake of) our young generation".

bukit koman ban cyanide awareness campaign during chingming 310313 06 The Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd has been a sore point for the community, which claims that cyanide in the mine’s emissions pose a health hazard to the people.

Earlier this month BCAC took the government to task for claiming the cyanide content in the air was safe, saying it was using the “ wrong standards ”.

Meanwhile the mining company has denied all allegations and has taken individual activists and the press, including Malaysiakini , which have reported on the issue, to court for defamation.