KUANTAN: The moratorium on bauxite mining in the district should be extended if the state government has yet to abide by mining laws and enactment, said Pahang Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman.
He said the state government must ensure the requirements in the moratorium were fulfilled before mining could resume.
“I am confident that the environment can be protected if mining is done properly.
“However, bauxite production caused adverse effects on the environment and caused inconvenience to the people,” he told the New Straits Times Press yesterday.
Fauzi, who is former Indera Mahkota member of parliament, said he would leave it to the new state administration to discuss the matter with the Federal Government.
“The people’s wellbeing is more important. If mining is to
be allowed, it should be done systematically and in accordance with the law.”
Former Pahang menteri besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob reportedly said the moratorium, which ended on June 30 last year, was extended to after the 14th General Election.
On March 27, former natural resources and environment minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that the moratorium was extended to allow miners to dispose of their stockpile.