Deputy Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji came to his boss' Xavier Jayakumar defence, stressing that the minister's comment on cyanide was not referring to Bukit Koman.

Xavier had last Thursday told Parliament that there was no scientific evidence to link the usage of cyanide in gold mines to skin ailments including cancer when Bentong MP Wong Tack raised complaints by residents in Bukit Koman.

"The minister made a general statement... it had nothing to do with Bukit Koman.

'I, too, cannot comment on Bukit Koman because we don't know how much cyanide they used.

"The Bukit Koman residents claimed they faced skin ailments and eye irritation due to cyanide - that is their right as the distance of the gold mine is nearby," he said in a press conference at the Parliament building today.

Tengku Zulpuri is also the Raub MP, where Bukit Koman is located.

Environmental activists have criticised Xavier's statement and some have pointed out that his party previously supported their cause when it was in the opposition. 

The then opposition had in 2012 organised a protest against the gold mine in Bukit Koman. Among the leaders who spoke at the rally was PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Tengku Zulpuri claimed Xavier's comment was manipulated by certain quarters.

He also offered to meet with the environmental activists.

"On behalf of the minister, I humbly invite green and anti-cyanide groups to meet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," he said.

He added that the government is prepared to conduct further tests in Bukit Koman.

Raub Australia Gold Mine Sdn Bhd, which operated the gold mine in Bukit Koman, maintained throughout its operation that the facility was safe.

It had also denied causing harm to the local residents and initiated legal action against such claims. The gold mine is no longer in operation.