A group of residents from several housing estates near a quarry belonging to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s family-controlled business group, CMS Bhd at Kota Sentosa, near Kuching, are mulling legal action against the company and the authorities for endangering their lives and property by sanctioning blasting activities.

This followed what the group’s spokesperson today described to Malaysiakini as the worst blasting yesterday afternoon, which shook the ground around many of the houses at Taman Mei Lee and Taman Wai Leong in Jalan Stapak, causing internal damage to some of the houses.

There are two new housing estates, including the partly-occupied Taman Sentosa, in the vicinity of the quarry site.

Some of the houses along Jalan Stapak are also close to a 130kV high tension overhead cable which is part of the state power grid.

The quarry company, CMS Quarries Sdn Bhd, carries out almost daily blasting of the granite rocks, usually around 3pm. Houses in the two estates are about one kilometre away, with a dormant Chinese cemetery separating them.

In the past, many home-owners have reported damage to their ceilings and window panes and each time after the complaints, the company would send officials to inspect the damage and carry out repairs.

The group spokesperson ,who asked not to be identified as he has dealings with the government, today said yesterday’s blasting was the worst so far, shaking the ground and showering houses in the area with stones.

He added that residents could no longer afford to keep quiet about the issue and had to do something before more damage is done or someone gets hurt.

Endangering lives

In 2004, a group of 62 residents sent a petition to the company and authorities requesting a stop work order after fearing blasting activities could endanger their lives and property.

Department of Environment (DOE) officials went to the area following the complaints and recommended that the company take certain steps before carrying out blasting activities.

But after the officials left, things not onlydid not improve but got worst, the group spokesperson said.

"It is now too much, and we are contemplating seeking legal advice with a view to take action against the company, the Padawan Municipal Council and the minister who issued the quarry licence," he said.

kuching mayor cms black smoke premix plant 160407 smoke Recently, Bandar Kuching member of parliament Chong Chieng Jen complained on behalf of residents in the area about the serious air pollution from a factory adjacent to CMS Premix Sdn Bhd, which was spewing out black smoke.

After complaints, the company was said to have taken steps to reduce the air pollution but residents claimed that the air pollution became worse because of the type of chemicals added to the factory’s emissions.

The residents plan to engage the services of consultants to measure the air pollution level and the effects of the blasting activities before proceeding to take legal action against the company and the authorities concerned.

State PKR Stampin division chairperson See Chee How said several of the residents have approached him to seek legal advice on the matter.