Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the only way to stop more hazardous projects from being approved at the cost of the people's well-being was to vote out the BN government.
“To stop cyanide, Lynas, there is only one way, and that is by stopping BN,” he told the 10,000-strong crowd who gathered in Raub, Pahang in solidarity of villagers of Bukit Koman who have been fighting against gold mining firm Raub Australia Gold Mining.
The rally, organised by environmental pressure group Himpunan Hijau, is the second 'green' rally in Pahang following the anti-Lynas protest last February.
In Raub, protesters spoke against the use of cyanide at a nearby gold mine for leaching purposes.
Countries like Germany, Turkey, Honduras, Argentina and Philippines had banned the use of cyanide to extract the precious metal, while in 2010, the European parliament banned cyanide leaching in EU gold mines.
The protest against RAGM began in 2007, but legal actions by residents had been long ignored leading to yesterday’s rally.
Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob had earlier dismissed the claim that health issues suffered by Bukit Koman residents were due to the use of cyanide. Despite being invited, Adnan and MCA's Raub member of parliament Ng Yen Yen stayed away from the rally.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is also PAS information chief, reminded Adnan that the rally was organised by non-governmental organisations and not politically motivated.
PAS's Environment bureau chief Zulkifli Omar meanwhile said RAGM should be relocated to heavy industries area and not residential area.
With the presence of Lynas in Gebeng and RAGM, Zulkifli said Pahang had become a centre for hazardous projects affecting the environment and public health.
“Even Chini lake is dying,” he quipped, referring to the country's second largest lake which has been conferred UNESCO protection.
-Harakahdaily
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