About 20 Kuantan residents will be marching to the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur starting tomorrow as they want the government and MPs to adopt a more proactive approach in handling bauxite mining issue in Pahang.

The Red2Green programme was formed by frustrated Kuantan residents, who have been affected by the bauxite mining activities close to their homes for a long time.

The 17-day walk will commence tomorrow at 7am from the house of Kuantan resident Che Long Che Ali, who is also one of the Red2Green organisers.

Che Long said the walk was meant to draw nationwide attention to unresolved problems due to bauxite mining.

Problems such as air pollution, damaged roads and water pollution has yet to be resolved by the relevant authorities and the government, he added.

“We are not against the resumption of bauxite mining activities, but the government should solve all the problems first.

“Mining activities should follow procedure, damaged roads should be repaired and mining sites should not be situated close to housing areas,” urged Che Long, when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

“We have met many people (the relevant authorities), however there was no response (from them).

“They have not visited us to discuss the issue or shown concern about the problems,” he added.

Che Long also said that Kuantan residents are disappointed by the lack of action by relevant authorities.

“The (National Resources and Environment) Ministry and relevant agencies had not taken any further action (since the government’s decision to impose a three-month suspension on bauxite mining in Pahang),” he said.

Meanwhile, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh stated that her team will provide medical aid, food, drinks and other necessity items to Red2Green participants.

She added that she will attend the programme launch tomorrow and walk alongside participants for a certain distance.

All bauxite mining activities in Pahang had been temporarily stopped since Jan 15, when the government issued a three-month moratorium.