PSM: Planned Jelai rare earth mining will destroy Orang Asli, environment

 

The planned rare earth element mining in Jelai forest in Pahang will destroy the Orang Asli community and environment, Parti Socialis Malaysia's (PSM) environment bureau national coordinator Sharan Raj (above) said today.

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that plans are afoot to mine rare earth from the Jelai forest in Pahang with the proposed project covering an area that can fit in 924 football fields.

At present, the project - which spans 660 hectares - has not yet been approved.

However, a meeting with the Department of Environment (DOE) and other stakeholders is slated for today to discuss the terms of reference (TOR) for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

Satellite imagery of the proposed mining site from Google Maps this year - as well as from Planet Labs in February - shows that the area is still densely covered by forests.

"Environmentalists and activists from PSM have observed hundreds of small water streams underneath the thick jungle canopy, which are not shown in the Google Maps," Sharan said.

He also claimed that the in-situ leaching method used by mining companies would introduce toxic fluids into the forest soil.

"The toxic fluid will dissipate and seep to contaminate the small streams of waters before merging into the larger river water.

"Polluting the river will destroy the Orang Asli community’s food sources as they depend exclusively on the streams and river to irrigate their vegetable gardens and fish.

"The river also provides water to irrigate farmlands for the villagers at midstream," Sharan said.

Many endangered species were spotted at the site

He claimed that the Orang Asli community in the area had observed many endangered species, such tigers, tapirs, bears, elephants and exotic birds, within the proposed mining site.

"The invasive rare earth element (REE) mining will threaten the food and water supply of these beautiful creatures.

"The reduction of one species will greatly impact the whole forest ecosystem as the tropical rainforest ecosystem is extremely fragile," he said.

Sharan called on the Pahang state government to do everything in its power to prevent the REE mining project from proceeding further.

The project is spearheaded by mineral mining company Aras Kuasa Sdn Bhd.

According to the TOR seen by Malaysiakini, the mining site is undeveloped land that has been "logged out".

Three mining leases have reportedly been issued by the Pahang state government for the land on the condition that any forest excised must be replaced with another.

The TOR states that the area is currently classified as a Rank 2 environmentally sensitive area. - Mkini