The Transport Ministry has specified that only Pakamatic (Paka)-type lorries will be permitted to transport bauxite ore after the three-month moratorium on bauxite mining starting Jan 15 ends in April.

Its Minister Liow Tiong Lai said it is one of the matters contained in the bauxite transportation guidelines set by the ministry in order to avoid pollution problems from recurring.

“We have already given clear guidelines to the lorry drivers that only Paka-type lorries will be allowed to transport bauxite.

“This is because this type of lorries can transport bauxite without spilling it on the road like the usual lorries used previously,” he told reporters when met at a Chinese New Year event in Batu 1, Jalan Tras in Bentong.

In addition, he said all lorries would only be allowed to use a specific route to transport the mineral to the stockpiling centre which will be determined soon.

“We have also decided not to store the bauxite at Kuantan Port. We do not want the port to be littered with bauxite spills.

“We have asked the Kuantan Port authorities to limit the bauxite amount stored in the port area. For example, if it can only accommodate 1.5 million tonnes, they can only receive that much,” he said.

Liow, who is also Bentong MP, said the move was to ensure that the port and the surrounding areas are not polluted with bauxite as was the case before.

He said the guidelines and clearer control measures will be distributed to the parties concerned by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Ismail Ahmad after he has finalised and streamlined operations with relevant agencies.

“We at the ministry level have prepared clear guidelines on bauxite transportation which will be given to the bauxite mine operators.

“However, it should be discussed in the secretariat together with other departments and agencies concerned headed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry,” said Liow.

- Bernama