TUMPAT: The Batek Orang Asli tribe in Kampung Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, are advised to take legal action against parties responsible for causing pollution at their village.
Kelantan Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Husam Musa said this was to safeguard their health, living environment and livelihoods.
“I suggest that any lawyer willing to do voluntary work, assist these Orang Asli to take legal action against the parties involved as a deterrent measure.
“This is to ensure that no parties will carry out illegal (gold) mining activities as this could adversely affect the environment and source of water for the Orang Asli and other local residents,” he said after opening the annual general meeting of the Bunga Raya Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK), here, today.
Husam said illegal mining activities could have been the cause of diseases affecting the Orang Asli villagers, though the cause is yet to be ascertained by the health authorities.
He added that although the initial study found the cause of the fatalities to be measles, the post-mortems found only three of the Orang Asli villagers had died of the disease.
On Saturday, Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations president Dr Steven Chow reportedly said that lab tests done on water samples taken around Kampung Kuala Koh on June 10 and 11 found the water to contain toxic contaminants. - Bernama