Skin problems found among Bukit Koman residents

A Health Ministry medical team has found that 60 of the 200 residents who had sought treatment last weekend in Bukit Koman, Raub, are suffering from “minor skin problems”.
  
Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, the deputy director-general of health, cited feedback to say that some residents require further treatment.

He warned the media not to “sensationalise” the figure, threatening to withhold comment in future if they do not comply.

The medical team comprising 15 health experts and supporting staff had provided the medical services, and additional services are scheduled after Hari Raya, he said.

Lokman was addressing a press conference at the ministry, after chairing a three-hour meeting with the Raub anti-cyanide committee, which is spearheading objections to the gold-mining operations near Bukit Koman.

The meeting was to discuss the setting up of a joint research team comprising expert investigators from both the ministry and the committee. Also discussed were the team’s scope of work and research protocols.
 
Lokman said the team has been set up to determine the real cause of health-related complaints, so that there will no longer be disputes over this.
 
While the government is not ignoring the health-related issues, he said the contributory factors could be just about anything.

"When we are dealing with environmental issues, pollutants can come from anywhere....let's be open about this. It might not even be cyanide, it might be other things. It might be a transboundary factor, we don't know.
 
"On the (Bukit Koman) report ..., yes, they do have some skin problems....but skin irritants can come from anything, even your perfume and (dish-washing detergents).”

Asked what would happen if the team suggests the closure of the gold mine, he said the findings should not be pre-empted.

Committee requests help
         
Anti-cyanide committee vice-president Shirley Hue said the group’s resources are limited in locating expert investigators.
 
"What we need are environmental chemists, epidemiologists and public health experts," she told reporters.
 
While the committee will attempt to contact personnel locally and abroad, she urged experts to help the residents.
 
Hue also said the committee's stand remains clear - it wants the gold mine closed, regardless of the outcome of the research.

Malaysiakini had previously contacted Andrew Kam of Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd, the company which is running the operations, but he had declined comment on issues raised.