'Blue' Sg Perak: MB says cause not confirmed, task force formed

The definitive cause of the phenomenon involving Sungai Perak’s water turning blue has yet to be determined, and there is no evidence to confirm any direct link to mining activities.

Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said that last Friday, state secretary Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim led a state government delegation to meet with the secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.

The meeting was also attended by heads of technical agencies, including the Mineral and Geoscience Department.

“This meeting was important for the state government to obtain clarity on the issues that have been raised. Alhamdulillah, it has helped shed light on several matters that required further explanation,” he said when winding up the Supply Bill 2026 in Ipoh today.

Saarani said records show that the river water turning blue had previously been reported in 2018 in nearly the same area, at a time when the rare earth element (REE) mining industry had not yet begun operating in Perak.

It was found that the incident occurred following unusually heavy rainfall.

“The department has also confirmed that the Hulu Perak area is naturally rich in mineral deposits such as tin, copper, manganese, arsenic and pyrite. Whenever it rains, these minerals can be carried into the river,” he said.

Saarani said that with the unusually high rainfall being experienced, more soil containing these minerals may be washed into the river.

He said that, based on the mineral content, there are two possible explanations for the change in water colour: firstly, sunlight refracting through the minerals suspended in the river, giving the appearance of blue water; and secondly, the presence of high mineral concentrations that may produce mineral solutions - such as ferric sulphate and copper sulphate - which themselves exhibit a blue hue.

Task force set up

Saarani said a task force had been established, involving all relevant technical departments, to examine, investigate and provide technical justification as well as field-based findings on all issues that have arisen.

“Investigations are ongoing, and stern action will be taken if any breach of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or regulations under the Minerals (Perak) Enactment 2003, the Mineral Development Act 1994 or the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” he said.

Saarani said that the Atomic Energy Department will also conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the actual level of radioactivity at the REE mining site.

He added that the state government adopts an open stance and will fully defer to the authorities and abide by any decision made.

- Bernama

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