While the Gua Musang Orang Asli community in Kelantan battle chainsaws that threaten to transplant their traditional forest with plantations, one village here is up against a different kind of challenge.
Kampung Kelaik, situated along the quiet Gua Musang-Cameron Highlands highway, is isolated from the main cluster of Orang Asli settlements minus a 'post' or administrative centre like the rest.
Villagers here have no access to running water and complain that the river that they depend upon is literally turning brownish red, and are fingering the mining activities uphill for their woes.
"We don't have running water here, so we need to rely on the river but the Kelaik River is red in colour," said Angah Pandak, 55 ,Pointing to the black and cracked skin on his leg, he claimed that the water was causing sickness among the local population.
The only nearby alternative river, Sungai Chia, he explained, was also off limits as villagers fear pesticides in the water from an upstream oil palm plantation.
An uphill 40-minute journey by four wheel finds an iron ore factory perched on the hilltop, churning out rusty-red water into what appear to be ponds dug out of the ground.
Kampung Kelaik, situated along the quiet Gua Musang-Cameron Highlands highway, is isolated from the main cluster of Orang Asli settlements minus a 'post' or administrative centre like the rest.
Villagers here have no access to running water and complain that the river that they depend upon is literally turning brownish red, and are fingering the mining activities uphill for their woes."We don't have running water here, so we need to rely on the river but the Kelaik River is red in colour," said Angah Pandak, 55 ,Pointing to the black and cracked skin on his leg, he claimed that the water was causing sickness among the local population.
The only nearby alternative river, Sungai Chia, he explained, was also off limits as villagers fear pesticides in the water from an upstream oil palm plantation.
An uphill 40-minute journey by four wheel finds an iron ore factory perched on the hilltop, churning out rusty-red water into what appear to be ponds dug out of the ground.
'Even rice in pot turns red'
"This is the water that we are getting, even when we cook rice, our rice turn red in colour," said another villager, Angah Muda as he pointed down at the ponds.
As the villagers surveyed the site which they claim is the source of their miseries, the factory' manager, wishing to be known only as Tan and a group of men approached them.
Asked about the villagers' claim later, Tan insisted that the factory is not responsible for polluting Sungai Kelaik.
"Whatever water that comes out of the factory stays in the ponds and is recycled, it does not flow into the river," he said.
Angah Muda appeared unconvinced by the explanation, leading his village men downstream, where the the clear Sungai Kelaik turns murky as it merges with the brownish red flow of Sungai Rumlah from uphill.
"This is the factory's water, look! They are not telling the truth," he insisted.
He claimed that the village was initially informed of the project but no real consultation undertaken nor compensation granted.
He also lamented that the state government had parcelled out land around the village for plantation, logging and mining without taking into account their traditional grounds.
Factory denies polluting river
When contacted, Sterling Goldhill Sdn Bhd, the factory's contractor reiterated that the brownish red river was not its doing as their's is confined to the ponds.
This only happens during the rainy season because the rain water washes the soil into the river, it is not our water, our water is stored in our ponds and reused," said its manager Julice Chu.
She said that company was mindful of the environment, in particular the nearby rivers and its consultants had already conducted all the necessary regulatory work for the factory.
Chu denied that the villagers did not receive compensation, stating that the landowner had already given the village between RM30,000 to RM40,000 when the factory began operations early this year.
"We have also offered the locals work but they are not keen to take them up," she said.
However, a lab analysis of water sample collected at the river directly downstream of the mine tailings pond found iron levels to be at significant levels of 11mg/L.
This, environmental activists Dylan Ong said, was above the two mg/L level for drinking water recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
As the villagers surveyed the site which they claim is the source of their miseries, the factory' manager, wishing to be known only as Tan and a group of men approached them.Asked about the villagers' claim later, Tan insisted that the factory is not responsible for polluting Sungai Kelaik.
"Whatever water that comes out of the factory stays in the ponds and is recycled, it does not flow into the river," he said.
Angah Muda appeared unconvinced by the explanation, leading his village men downstream, where the the clear Sungai Kelaik turns murky as it merges with the brownish red flow of Sungai Rumlah from uphill.
"This is the factory's water, look! They are not telling the truth," he insisted.
He claimed that the village was initially informed of the project but no real consultation undertaken nor compensation granted.
He also lamented that the state government had parcelled out land around the village for plantation, logging and mining without taking into account their traditional grounds.
Factory denies polluting river
When contacted, Sterling Goldhill Sdn Bhd, the factory's contractor reiterated that the brownish red river was not its doing as their's is confined to the ponds.
This only happens during the rainy season because the rain water washes the soil into the river, it is not our water, our water is stored in our ponds and reused," said its manager Julice Chu.She said that company was mindful of the environment, in particular the nearby rivers and its consultants had already conducted all the necessary regulatory work for the factory.
Chu denied that the villagers did not receive compensation, stating that the landowner had already given the village between RM30,000 to RM40,000 when the factory began operations early this year.
"We have also offered the locals work but they are not keen to take them up," she said.
However, a lab analysis of water sample collected at the river directly downstream of the mine tailings pond found iron levels to be at significant levels of 11mg/L.
This, environmental activists Dylan Ong said, was above the two mg/L level for drinking water recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Iron in water at significant level
"The iron content in the river water was 11mg/L, this is way above normal level which is below one mg/L or two to three mg/L if there are ongoing earthworks," he said.
Nonetheless, he noted that water sample taken from the same source further down stream where villagers use for daily chores and consumption was at 1.59mg/L.
"The reduction is probably because a portion of the iron was deposited along the riverbed but if there is heavy rain, it is possible that the iron level down stream will be much higher," he said.
According to the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, the average iron concentration in rivers is at 0.7mg/L and drinking water should be no more than two mg/L as a precaution against excessive iron storage in the human body.
While the iron concentration level was higher than normal, Ong acknowledged that these levels may not yet be toxic, but said more consultation should have been conducted with the Orang Asli community.
"The Orang Asli did not know what to expect and are of course worried.
"Who wouldn't be worried when the water they use for drinking, cooking and washing turns red?" he said.
"The iron content in the river water was 11mg/L, this is way above normal level which is below one mg/L or two to three mg/L if there are ongoing earthworks," he said.
Nonetheless, he noted that water sample taken from the same source further down stream where villagers use for daily chores and consumption was at 1.59mg/L.
"The reduction is probably because a portion of the iron was deposited along the riverbed but if there is heavy rain, it is possible that the iron level down stream will be much higher," he said.
According to the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, the average iron concentration in rivers is at 0.7mg/L and drinking water should be no more than two mg/L as a precaution against excessive iron storage in the human body.While the iron concentration level was higher than normal, Ong acknowledged that these levels may not yet be toxic, but said more consultation should have been conducted with the Orang Asli community.
"The Orang Asli did not know what to expect and are of course worried.
"Who wouldn't be worried when the water they use for drinking, cooking and washing turns red?" he said.
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