NGOs urge states to stop issuing mining licences in forest reserves

Several non-governmental organisations in the country have urged the Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, and Pahang state governments to stop issuing licences and cancel mining activities in Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF) areas.

The NGOs claimed that mining activities have been reported in environmentally sensitive PRF areas.

Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kadeer, who led the media conference at the CAP office on Jalan Masjid Negeri, said these demands are in line with the decision made at the 70th National Land Council meeting on Nov 18, 2014.

“The meeting attended by the menteri besar and chief ministers from the states decided that all governments should take the initiatives to control or, as far as possible, to avoid any approval of mining and quarrying activities in the PRF and ESA areas,” he said.

The statement was supported by NGOs including CAP, Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam, Persatuan Penggerak Bumi Hijau Malaysia, Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia, Pertubuhan Pelindungan Khazanah Alam Malaysia, Pertubuhan Rangkaian Pembangunan Kesinambungan Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Sik, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Mohideen said mining and quarrying activities in these areas will directly affect sustainable forest management, which is the core aspect of national forest management.

He said, for example, the rare earth element (REE) mining site at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Kedah, and the Kenderong Forest Reserve in Perak, which is part of the “Central Forest Spine’ Ecological Network Corridor 1 – Primary Linkage 8, and Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve in Hulu Perak, which is an Ecological Network Corridor 1.

“Based on Section 2 of the National Forestry Act 1984, rare-earth-based mineral resources are not defined as forest products, therefore they cannot be excavated from the PRF areas.

“When the issue of illegal REE mining at Bukit Enggang arose recently, Kedah Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s explanations at the state legislative assembly showed that he was not serious in handling the issue.

“On these issues, why are the state authorities not questioning the state Forestry Department and the Menteri Besar Incorporated that gave the permit to carry out mining activities at Bukit Enggang,” Mohideen asked.

He said it is impossible for the two government agencies to not know what is happening as it is a restricted area that is prohibited to outsiders and this became public when the media exposed illegal rare earth element mining at Bukit Enggang.

Sahabat Alam Sik (SAS) representative Mohd Sobri Ramlee said mining operations at Bukit Enggang had polluted the water sources of nearby villagers.

“The statement of the Kedah menteri besar that water from the REE mining area was not contaminated was also misleading as he is not an authoritative or qualified source to confirm it,” Sobri said.

He also asked why REE-laden lorries were not covered when leaving the villages where they were processed, and whether they were exported overseas.

Hafizudin Nasamdin, the chairperson of the Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam said REE mining at Mukim Kenering in Perak is also taking place in an environmentally sensitive area that has been identified for conservation and protection.

“The EIA report of the proposed REE mining in Mukim Kenering in Perak clearly stated that the earthworks will have a destructive impact, either directly or indirectly, on the wildlife habitats, including aquatic life and the potential loss of wildlife species.

“This is in addition to the fact that approval was given for up to 30 years, which is too long,” he added.

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