Andrew Sebastian, co-founder and CEO of the Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Malaysia (Ecomy), said the monitoring group should be made up of industry experts, academics, local NGOs and officers from the environment ministry to ensure the best standards are observed in bauxite mining.
He said the mining of bauxite, from which aluminium was extracted, must not be carried out at the risk of public health and environmental degradation.
“Bauxite mining must be harmonised with nature and this can be done through regular monitoring by the independent group,” he told FMT.
Sebastian was asked to comment on the announcement by Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob that the moratorium on bauxite mining in Kuantan would be extended until the next general election.
National Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar imposed the moratorium on Jan 15 last year following the public outcry over the extensive environmental pollution caused by the mining activities and transportation of the ore by road to Kuantan Port for export.
He had said the suspension of mining was to enable the entrepreneurs concerned to clear bauxite stockpiles and mitigate pollution in the supply chain from the mines to the shippers.
The moratorium was extended several times with the latest due to expire at the end of this month.
Adnan said the mandate of his government was up to the next general election, after which any decision on bauxite mining would depend on the incoming government.
He said the move to extend the period of the prohibition was not “a political game” and expressed hope that the people would consider the matter from a wider perspective.
Sebastian said the Pahang government should make use of the moratorium period to improve the standards of mining in Kuantan.
“This is a good time to take stock of what happened and to ensure all the possible loopholes within the processes of the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) that have been uncovered in this saga are quickly addressed,” he said.
He felt the announcement to extend the moratorium till the next general election showed that the state government was not making any hasty decision.
“Use the time to take into account strict environmental adherence to protecting the people of the surrounding areas, and possibly rehabilitate and contain the elements,” he added.