Residents of Bukit Koman, Raub are scheduled to hold a mass rally to protest against the use of cyanide for gold mining activities by the Raub Australian Gold Mine (RAGM) Sdn Bhd in their neighbourhood.
The organisers, Ban Cyanide Action Committee, hopes to rally some 20,000 people to pressure the federal government to compel RAGM to stop operations.
The organisers, Ban Cyanide Action Committee, hopes to rally some 20,000 people to pressure the federal government to compel RAGM to stop operations.
The rally will be dubbed Himpunan Hijau Raub (Raub Green Rally) and will be held at the Dataran Raub on September 2.
“It has been more than 1,000 days since RAGM had started making money by extracting ‘dirty gold’, using life threatening cyanide compounds.
“No doubt that the mine bosses are laughing to their banks for they care not about the Raub residents," said committee chairperson Wong Kin Hoong told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Wong said that the refinery has been spewing pollutants 24 hours everyday but those who speak up are harassed.
"We are not against profit-making businesses, it just happened that this gold mine operates in a very unethical way that pollutes the environment and bring harm to our lives," said Wong.
When contacted, RAGM director Andrew Kam declined comment.
“No doubt that the mine bosses are laughing to their banks for they care not about the Raub residents," said committee chairperson Wong Kin Hoong told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today. Wong said that the refinery has been spewing pollutants 24 hours everyday but those who speak up are harassed.
"We are not against profit-making businesses, it just happened that this gold mine operates in a very unethical way that pollutes the environment and bring harm to our lives," said Wong.
When contacted, RAGM director Andrew Kam declined comment.
On June 21, the committee had alleged that survey done on May 19 and 20 revealed that 78.1 percent of the residents in surrounding areas were suffering health problems, believed to be related to cyanide used in local gold mine.
However, a probe commissioned by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai early last month has yet to reveal its findings.
Pakatan to join rally
Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat will be offering its support for the rally.
PAS environmental bureau chief Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, who was also present at the press conference, said his party will be mobilising its members to attend the rally.
“This will be like that we did in February in Kuantan. We must stop irresponsible individuals who continues to pollutes the planet,” he said.
He would also recommend the Pahang State PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to hold a Hari Raya event in Raub during the rally to attract more people.
"Since the rally will be held around the Aidifitri period, let us celebrate it in a meaningful way," he said.
Another speaker at the press conference, Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu, accused the Pahang and the federal government of ignoring the suffering of the villagers.
"We shouldn't give up easily until that boiling point comes, as these struggles for change requires a long time to succeed," said Liu, who hails from Raub.
Pakatan to join rally
Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat will be offering its support for the rally.
PAS environmental bureau chief Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, who was also present at the press conference, said his party will be mobilising its members to attend the rally.
“This will be like that we did in February in Kuantan. We must stop irresponsible individuals who continues to pollutes the planet,” he said.
He would also recommend the Pahang State PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to hold a Hari Raya event in Raub during the rally to attract more people.
"Since the rally will be held around the Aidifitri period, let us celebrate it in a meaningful way," he said.
Another speaker at the press conference, Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu, accused the Pahang and the federal government of ignoring the suffering of the villagers.
"We shouldn't give up easily until that boiling point comes, as these struggles for change requires a long time to succeed," said Liu, who hails from Raub.
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