Kelantan red rivers: Expert says couldn't look victims in the eye

Summary

• Chemical health expert Vivien How, who was consulted on the blood test results of Orang Asli living downstream from iron ore mines in Kelantan, admits it was the first time in her career that she couldn’t meet the gaze of victims.

• Speaking in a KiniTV podcast, How recalls switching calculators multiple times to recheck the blood test results of a 19-year-old Orang Asli boy with extremely high levels of chromium in his blood.

• Starting next month, Natural Resources And Environmental Sustainability Ministry will make executive summaries of EIA reports publicly accessible. 

After reviewing blood test results from six Orang Asli living downstream from iron ore mines in Kelantan, chemical health expert Vivien How struggled to meet the gaze of the affected community when she met them in person.

As users or beneficiaries of iron ore products, like a homeowner, How felt a sense of responsibility for the fate of this Temiar community, should it be found that the mines were behind the heavy metal poisoning.

“I didn’t dare look them in the eye,” she confessed in an emotional KiniTV podcast interview that premiered yesterday.

“As a lecturer with 10 years of experience, this is the first time I didn’t dare to look someone in the eye.

“That was the first time I didn’t dare look at them in their eyes. The indigenous people’s eyes,” she recalled.

How came face-to-face with the Temiar community at the launch of a Kini News Lab photo exhibition on Dec 14, highlighting the river pollution threatening the lives of the Orang Asli community in Kampung Kelaik, Gua Musang. 

Following a Malaysiakini exposé last December, two iron ore mines operating on Bukit Tambun in Kampung Kelaik were ordered to halt operations pending investigations into potential heavy metal pollution.

How, who reviewed the blood test results conducted by Malaysiakini last October, concluded that the chromium level in the youngest volunteer, Azlan Ahak’s blood placed him at a lifetime cancer risk of approximately 64,000 times higher than normal.

Last week, the Health Ministry collected blood samples of at least 60 of the 200 Temiar villagers in Kampung Kelaik, leaving out children and the elderly.

One mining operator, Redstar Capital Sdn Bhd stressed that it complied with the Minerals Development (Effluent) Regulations 2016 that came into effect in 2017.

Aqua Orion Sdn Bhd, the second mine with a licence dating from 2015, was found to be operating without an approved environmental impact assessment (EIA) report. 

READ MORE | Red rivers and death: Natives fight iron ore mining in Kelantan rainforest

Pausing to compose herself, How explained that while iron ore was essential in building homes, it was also important to address systemic issues to balance development with environmental responsibilities and the protection of indigenous communities.

“Iron ore is the primary source of building materials for construction, and each of us aspires to own a house.

“Consequently, we all bear some responsibility towards these mines.

“The point is not to halt iron ore operations, but to critically examine whether systemic gaps exist that prevent us from taking environmental responsibility during development, while also considering the indigenous communities who depend on the forests,” How stressed.

Documents sighted by Malaysiakini show at least one mine is linked to a global supply chain, leaving the devastation faced by the once-secluded community in the hands of distant decision-makers.

Expert found Azlan’s numbers unbelievable

Recalling the moment she reviewed the blood test results, How said she switched calculators four times and even considered adding a zero to make the numbers seem more plausible, less alarming, and to avoid chaos.

“But then I thought I have to be truthful,” she declared.

“After I calculated it, I used the computer programme on my phone to calculate, and then I switched to a scientific computer to calculate, and then I borrowed my sister’s cheapest computer to calculate.

“After calculating the result, I wondered if I needed to change the data before sending, otherwise it would cause confusion and chaos. 

“For me, I have seriously thought about it. Maybe if I add an extra zero in front of it, the thing will not result in such an exaggerated level and it will not look so scary,” she recalled during the podcast interview.

According to her review, out of 100 villagers, six who had the same exposure to chromium as Azlan were likely to have the same fate.

EIA summary report made public 

On Wednesday, Natural Resources And Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said executive summaries of the EIA reports would be made publicly accessible, starting in February.

In a statement, Nik Nazmi said, the executive summary reports will be made available through the EnviroDigital@DOE library website.

While the DOE website currently displays EIA report decisions, updates, and approval status, the department has now outlined a two-phase plan for the public to access EIA reports - to be executed in a long-term phase and a short-term phase.

He said in the long-term phase, the DOE was assessing the feasibility of allowing EIA reports to be downloaded from its website.

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