No scientific proof that Raub gold mine posed health hazard to residents - Xavier

PARLIAMENT | There is no scientific evidence to show the use of cyanide in gold mining activities at Bukit Koman in Raub, Pahang, is hazardous to the residents and the environment,  Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

"The facts I obtained showed that the use of cyanide in the gold mining has no effect on the air nor the health (of the residents) at the surrounding area," he said during the Question-and-Answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

"Scientifically, there is no link between cyanide with the growth on the skin and skin cancer. And there is no literature that we can cite to say cyanide causes skin cancer," Xavier said.

Citing a recent research which he didn't name, he said that cyanide did not emit any odour.

"No matter where you put cyanide, it will evaporate and turn into carbon dioxide, it has no smell," he said, adding that the complaints of stench in Bentong could be because the area is a huge swampland.

The Bukit Koman gold mine had ceased operations following the objection from the local residents, Xavier noted.

"(The operator) still holds the mining lease for the next three years, if I'm not mistaken," he said.

Xavier added that the mine provides employment opportunities for 106 people and contributed an annual RM8 million in royalty to the state government.

"It produces about 1,200kg of gold a year and if we put a value to all that, the federal government can collect up to RM39 million in taxes annually," he said.

Xavier (photo) stressed that the government imposed a set of strict rules against the use of cyanide in gold mining, where the operators must have a waterproof concrete baseline for their ponds.

"The residents said that (the cyanide residue) will enter the river and underground water. This is not going to happen, as the pond that stores cyanide water has to be built in compliance with the regulation to ensure the water does not seep into the ground.

"And, cyanide is very expensive, so the operator will reuse them instead of dumping them," Xavier said.

He was responding to environmentalist-turned-politician Wong Tack (Harapan-Bentong) and Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN-Lipis) who asked about the health impact of the use of cyanide in gold mining.

Xavier, who is also the Kuala Langat MP, said three other gold mines using cyanide had no similar issues as they are located quite a distance from residential areas.

In the case of Bukit Koman gold mine, he said it became a big issue when the residents approached the gold mine, which had been there for a long time.

Kampung Baru Bukit Koman residents, who live adjacent to the gold mine, had claimed that the use of cyanide had badly affected their health back in 2008.

They complained of suffering from skin rashes, red and watery eyes, throat irritation, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and others signs of health problems.

The government, and the mining company Raub Australia Gold Mining Sdn Bhd, which began operations in 2007, disputed the claims. - Mkini