Group blocks access to mining
Published on: Friday, January 12, 2024
Villagers calling for an end to illegal gold mining operations in their area
TAWAU: The Pusat Komuniti Kampung Balung Kokos said they would not allow oil tankers access their village road in protest against the gold mining activities at Bukit Mantri.
They said the decision was in response to authorities’ failure to put an end to the mining operations in the area, which they to be illegal.
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Speaking on behalf of the residents, Kelana Benza said despite several police reports and complaints being made to the Department of Environment, nothing was done to halt the mining operation.
According to Kelana, the mining activity is illegal because neither the Department of Minerals and Geosciences’ Operational Mining Scheme nor its Environmental Impact Assessment Report have given their approval.
“Since this is the case, don’t restrict us villagers from engaging in the activity as well because mining activity seem to be done whenever one pleases without official permission.
“I have personally filed police reports but for some reason nothing has been done to stop the mining activity that appears to be immune from action,” Kelana said.
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“Every day villagers smell the dust, our village roads are damaged, and our village resources are taken. Villagers are left with river pollution and inhaling air filled with dust. I work in the tourism industry, and there have been multiple occasions where we have had to close this area to visitors due to severe river pollution, which has an impact on the village’s primary source of income,” Kelana said.
Kelana said they are not against the mining because it can give people employment options. “However, it needs to be done with legitimate documentation.”
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“The mining activity must comply with the rules and regulations found in existing law. If it is granted a license, employee insurance protection and precautions against unfavorable events are obviously in place,” Kelana said.
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