The Health Ministry has begun an investigation into alleged chromium poisoning at the Kampung Kelaik Orang Asli village in Kelantan.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed this during a press conference earlier today and said they will provide more information on the matter soon.

“We are still investigating. We will update the soonest and issue a statement,” he told reporters at the Parliament.

Dzulkefly (above) held the conference to talk about another issue when he was asked to comment on the Kampung Kelaik case.

Earlier, Malaysiakini learned that the Health Ministry is planning a visit to the village in Gua Musang.

This followed a special report by Malaysiakini’s NewsLab on a mining operation in Bukit Tambun, Gua Musang which is feared to be causing heavy metal contamination in rivers and posing a health risk to a Temiar community downstream.

Kampung Kelaik villagers claimed the rivers turned rusty red since mining began over a decade ago, and a recent blood test conducted by Malaysiakini revealed high chromium levels in one of six villagers who volunteered for testing.

A chemical health expert who reviewed the result of the blood tests and water sample test earlier told Malaysiakini there is a likely link to the mining due to the relatively high level of chromium at one mine discharge point.

When asked about other potential sources of contamination, chemical health assessor Vivien How said pesticides used in large-scale plantations in the vicinity of the village could “seep into the soil, contaminate the water, and further enhance environmental burdens”.

According to Kampung Kelaik Action Committee leader Ahak Uda, the Gua Musang Health Department has contacted the community to schedule a visit to the village on Tuesday, December 17, to collect blood samples and conduct health check-ups for the children.

Malaysiakini is also contacting the department for more information on the visit.

Mine claims to adhere to regulations

Malaysiakini contacted both mine operators, Redstar Capital Sdn Bhd and Aqua Orion Sdn Bhd.

Redstar Capital, the larger of the two, denied any wrongdoing.

Its administration manager Julice Chu Lai Siong said the company does not discharge waste into the river as it uses a “closed circuit” and “zero discharge” concept in its operations.

In this concept, effluents are recycled into the mine’s processing, ensuring no wastewater is released into the river.

However, when Malaysiakini visited the mining site, it saw two points where water came out of mining ponds into a stream.

Chu also said Redstar Capital ensures its effluents comply with the Department of Minerals and Geoscience’s (JMG) limits of 0.20mg/L for chromium-6 and 0.05mg/L for chromium-3.

She added the company sends water samples from the rivers near the mine to JMG and the Department of Environment (DOE) monthly.

Over the years, Redstar Capital has never received complaints from the community about its operations, she added.

The other mine operator, the DOE, JMG, and the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) have yet to respond to Malaysiakini.

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'Halt mining until chromium poisoning source known'

'Halt mining until chromium poisoning source known'