GEORGE TOWN: Several non-governmental organisations (NGO) have urged all state authorities, especially in the states of Perak, Kedah, Kelantan and Pahang where mining have been reported, to prohibit such activities in Permanent Reserved Forests (PRFs) and environmentally-sensitive areas (ESAs).
The NGOs also called on all state authorities to reconsider and cancel the approval on mining operations in those areas.
These demands, the NGOs pointed out, were in line with the decision made at the 70th National Land Council (MTN) Meeting on Nov 18, 2014, for all states to take the initiative to control, or as far as possible, avoid any approval of mining and quarrying activities in the PRF and ESA areas.
Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) president, Mohideen Abdul Kader said the MTN was apt in making this decision because mining and quarrying activities in the PRF area would directly affect sustainable forest management, which is the core of national forest management.
He said, for example, the proposed location of the rare earth element (REE) mining in Kedah is in the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve (HS Bukit Enggang), while in Perak it is located in part of the 'Central Forest Spine' Ecological Network Corridor 1 - Primary Linkage 8: Kenderong Forest Reserve - HS Bintang Hijau, Hulu Perak District (CFS Ecological Network Corridor 1 - PL 8: HS Kenderong - HS Bintang Hijau).
Based on Section 2 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313), rare earth-based mineral resources are not defined as forest products, which means that they cannot be excavated from the PRF area.
He added that when the issue of illegal REE mining in HS Bukit Enggang arose recently, the Kedah Menteri Besar's explanation during the recent state assembly session was seen as not showing seriousness in dealing with the issue.
"Why are the state authorities not questioning the two relevant agencies, namely the State Forestry Department (the agency that manages and has jurisdiction over forest reserves) and Menteri Besar Incorporated, a subsidiary of the state government that was given a Use Permit to carry out activities in HS Bukit Enggang?
"It is impossible for the two agencies to not know what is happening when it is a restricted area for those who are not concerned.
"This became public knowledge only after the media revealed the issue of illegal REE mining and theft at HS Bukit Enggang," he said today.
Mohideen said nearby villagers had informed them that the REE mining operation at HS Bukit Enggang had caused their water source to be polluted.
He said the majority of the villagers there still use water sourced from the forest reserve and this had been approved by the Forestry Department.
"The statement of the Kedah Menteri Besar is also misleading when he stated that MB Inc confirmed that the water source from the REE mining area is not contaminated as this agency is not an authoritative and qualified agency to confirm whether the water source is contaminated or otherwise.
"In the issue of mining in Mukim Kenering, Perak, based on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA), the proposed Rare Earth Element Mining area is categorised as an Environmentally Sensitive Area Rank 1 (ESA Rank 1) and an Ecological Network Corridor that has been identified for conservation and protection," he added.
Based on the National Physical Plan (NPP), the management measures in ESA Rank 1 are that no development, agriculture and logging activities are allowed except for low-impact nature tourism, research and education purposes only.
"The EIA Report of the Proposed Rare Earth Element Mining in Mukim Kenering in Perak clearly states that the project's earth works will have a destructive impact, either directly or indirectly on wildlife habitats here, including aquatic life and the potential loss of wildlife species.
"This is in addition to the fact that the total period of mining operations is expected to be quite lengthy, which is 12 years, while the approval period for the mining license is too long, which is up to 30 years.
"The expected period of mining and the period of mining approval, which is too long will indirectly cause habitat destruction which in turn can adversely impact the wildlife in the area," he said.
Mohideen said another issue was how mining operations could be carried out before obtaining the approval of the EIA. 'Google map' review and drone footage had found that earthworks had been carried out and there were structures of the hydrometallurgical plant at the location of the proposed project.
"We hereby urge all state authorities to take appropriate action to stop and no longer allow any destructive activities such as mining operations in permanent forest reserves and environmentally-sensitive areas.
"The government must not put profit before people and the environment.
"These environmentally- sensitive ecosystems must be protected and not exploited," he stressed.
Mohideen's statement was supported by Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA); Persatuan Penggerak Bumi Hijau Malaysia (Bumi Hijau); Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (GRASS); Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA Malaysia); Pertubuhan Rangkaian Pembangunan Kesinambungan Malaysia (SUSDEN Malaysia);
Sahabat Alam Sik (SAS); Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM); and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).