IPOH, Nov 5 — The Perak government has ordered three mining operations near Sungai Perak in Gerik to temporarily halt activities pending the investigations into recent river water discolouration, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
However, Saarani confirmed that the mining operators, allegedly linked to the incident, are licensed and operating legally.
“They are legal. But temporarily, they have been told to stop operations until we are satisfied. All three have stopped,” he said.
Saarani said this to reporters when asked to comment on the alleged river pollution incident after attending the Program Jelajah Taat Setia Madani Perak at the Ipoh Convention Centre here.
He added that the government has also instructed the State Secretary and relevant agencies to take immediate action and conduct site investigations.
“Several agencies were tasked with probing the incident, including the Department of Environment (DoE), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG), the State Land and Mines Office (PTG), and the state Health Department,” he said.
Regarding the condition of Sungai Perak, Saarani said he was informed that the water colour had returned to normal, and therefore did not visit the site despite initially planning to.
However, he confirmed initial reports of fish deaths in the area, indicating there was pollution involved.
“At this stage, it is said that initially some fish died. That means there was a pollution incident,” he said.
Saarani said that the state will not issue an official statement until the departments finalise their findings.
He said the agencies will brief on the latest developments on the incident at the state executive council tomorrow in a meeting chaired by Deputy State Secretary (Development) Haliza Sipun.
“After the exco meeting, we will issue a statement,” he added.
On November 3, DoE said that it has identified three mining operations in the upper reaches of Sungai Perak in Gerik, following reports that the river water had recently turned bluish.
Its director-general, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, said the area involved one rare earth element (REE) mine and two tin mines.
Wan Abdul said the water samples have been sent to the Chemistry Department to determine the cause and that an investigation is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG).
He said preliminary investigations suggested that nearby mining activities were likely the cause of the river’s discolouration, although other possible contributing factors could not be ruled out.
On October 21, photos of Sungai Perak near the Kampung Sungai Papan Bridge, about five kilometres north of Kampung Air Ganda in Gerik, appeared blue, went viral on social media.
On October 21, photos of Sungai Perak near the Kampung Sungai Papan Bridge, about five kilometres north of Kampung Air Ganda in Gerik, appeared blue, went viral on social media. — Picture via Facebook/Jejak Air Tawar
