KUANTAN: Bauxite mining operators and stakeholders are all smiles following the government's announcement today that the moratorium on bauxite mining will be lifted in April.
Some of the operators were seen anxiously waiting at the Kuantan Port office here for Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar as he inspected several mining sites in the state capital and the stockpile in Kuantan Port before arriving at the building at about noon.
Bukit Goh Bauxite Issues Committee chairman Datuk Dr Abd Wahid Abd Manap said the decision to lift the moratorium was a huge relief to all those involved in the mining industry as they have been waiting for the decision for more than three years.
He said the settlers in Felda Bukit Goh who had previously leased their lands for mining activities and were mined halfway before the contractors left when the moratorium was imposed can now look forward to promising times.
"Everyone has waited for this good news. We hope once the moratorium is lifted the mining operators will resume mining works on the lands which had been left abandoned.
"After what happened in the past, I am sure the ministry will monitor the mining activities in Pahang closely and operators will have to adhere to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he said.
Another industry player - Lee Teck, 46, described the news as music to the ears of lorry and excavator drivers, who could be rehired soon to assist with the mining activities.
However, he said the lorry drivers would have to wait for further announcement on the types of lorries allowed to transport the bauxite ores to Kuantan Port.
Pahang Mining Operators Association vice-president Datuk Yap Soon Huat described the announcement "as good news to the bauxite mining industry."
However, Felda Bukit Goh Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Mat Zahari Deraman said he hoped the resumption of bauxite mining activity would not shatter the peace villagers had been enjoying over the past three years.
"We hope there will be no bauxite dust pollution and roads occupied by lorries transporting the ores. We have experienced it in the past and we do not want a repeat if similar incidents," he said when contacted.