Sinar Harian, in its report today, had claimed that 13 villagers, including an infant, had died over the past one month due to a “mysterious disease”.

However, Gua Musang police chief Taufik Maidin said police only knew of the deaths of two villagers on May 29. He said they died of a lung infection after coughing badly.

Tengku Zulpuri said that he will visit Kampung Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, to find out if companies involved in mining and logging activities had followed proper procedures and if the villagers’ source of water had been contaminated.

“I will be heading there with Puan Sri Sabrina and we will meet the Orang Asli villagers to get more details,” he said, referring to environmental activist Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil.

Shariffa Sabrina is also the president of environmental group, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka).

Tengku Zulpuri added he will also check on the licences of the companies involved in mining and logging activities.

He added this will be his second visit to Kampung Kuala Koh within six months. He visited the village on Dec 22, 2018 and the ministry found the logging companies did not follow certain regulations.

“Some rivers were blocked by tree trunks and the waste from the mine was too close the rivers,” Tengku Zulpuri said, adding he feared chemicals from the logging and mining activities may have entered the rivers.

Previously, it was reported that Kampung Kuala Koh villagers claimed that the water from the rivers near their homes were polluted causing itchiness and stomach aches.

They also said the water quality was affected due to logging and mining activities near their village.

Meanwhile, Sabrina said that Peka will help the villagers move out, away from the rivers that may be polluted.

“This is horrible. What kind of state government allows this?” she said in questioning the wisdom in giving mining and timber licences near Orang Asli villages.

FMT is trying to reach health officers to check on the claims of the deaths.