SEGAMAT: The Health Ministry has urged the Selangor government to stop sourcing water from former mining pools.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said he would pursue the matter with the Selangor Water Board and the state government. “Although tests on the quality of water from mining pools have shown it to be safe, the public is still not happy. There has been an overwhelming negative reaction in view of the perception that the water was polluted by a variety of toxins and dangerous substances.” Dr Subramaniam said the state government should note that the water levels in dams in Selangor had gone up and it could provide clean water supply to the people.
Meanwhile, Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago of DAP had ridiculed the Selangor Water Management Authority’s (Luas) threat to take legal action against those who questioned the quality of water.
This was following a New Straits Times front page report detailing high level of toxins and heavy metal content in mining pools in Bestari Jaya, which had been identified by the state as an alternative source of water.
The story had prompted Luas to threaten legal action against the paper.
“I find such intimidating statements irresponsible, especially coming from state-linked agencies tasked with a social responsibility. It is ironic how an agency dedicated to manage water sources can dismiss years of academic research and findings of experts in the field, whose research has been published in reputable journals,” Santiago wrote in his blog yesterday.
He also called on the Selangor government to make public the Health Ministry's study on whether water supplied from the eight ex-mining ponds met Malaysian Water Quality Standards, adding that recent research showed that heavy metals had contaminated Bestari Jaya mining pools.
"Transferring water from these mining ponds to Sungai Selangor amounts to polluting the river.
"Even treatment plants cannot treat or clean heavy metal or toxic pollution.
"This has implications on public health," he wrote.
In another blog posting, Santiago said a study entitled "Study of Water Quality and Heavy Metals in Soil & Water of Ex-Mining Area Bestari Jaya, Peninsular Malaysia" conducted in June 2010 suggested that most of physio-chemical parameters and metals concentration found in Bestari Jaya exceeded the limits set in the Malaysian Water Quality Standards.
"The authors note with alarm, the level of degradation in the quality of water and severe heavy metal pollution in Bestari Jaya mining pond.
"This spawns a major environmental challenge to the ecosystem and pollution possibilities to Sungai Selangor, the end recipients," he wrote.
Another study in 2012 concluded that Bestari Jaya mining pools had between moderate to very high levels of heavy metal pollution, posing high environmental and health risks.
Santiago questioned Luas' hesitance in providing credible analysis to refute the findings of the researchers.
"In fact, the agency had not publicly disclosed (the) Health Ministry's certification that mine pond water from the eight ponds conforms to the Malaysian Water Quality Standards.
"And there is no evidence indicating that Luas has treated and rehabilitated the various mine ponds over the years to suggest that mine water is safe for human consumption."
He said the agencies' inability to assuage public fears through credible explanations and evidence showed weaknesses, adding that threats in the form of suits undermines public confidence in the agency.
"Therefore, Luas has no basis in issuing threats with the view to intimidate the public and stakeholders from raising concerns of public health."
He urged the state government to instruct Luas to reveal whether the heavy metal content found in the pools met Malaysian Water Quality Standards.
"The agency has to publicly disclose (the) Health Ministry's certification. If it fails to do so, then Luas must be subjected to public scrutiny, including law suits."
Meanwhile, Luas said it would issue a statement on Monday
New Straits Times
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