THE Association for Community and Dialogue (Acid) is appalled by the statement of Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim that the Kedah Governmentâs decision not to conduct any rare earth element (REE) mining at water catchment areas in the state was a big sacrifice and suggesting the Penang government compensate for it.
He said this in response to a question from Chow Kon Yeow (PH Tanjong) in the dewan rakyat on the ministryâs measures to preserve and prevent any pollution in the water catchment areas in Ulu Muda forest reserve.
The Environment and Water Minister seems to be political and even ignorant about the impact of rare earth element mining in water catchment areas and its impact on water to states like Penang and Kedah.
The potential damage to the environment and its resulting health impact on people cannot be merely measured in dollars and cents.
There is no such thing as sacrifice on the part of the Kedah government, but duty and responsibility between states to preserve the substance and quality of water that is used for the common good of people.
Research has shown that half a century of rare earths mining and processing has severely damaged surface vegetation, caused soil erosion, pollution and acidification, and reduced or even eliminated food crop output.
It affects the environment by inducing loss of biodiversity, contamination of surface water and leakage of chemicals from mining sites that could result in detrimental effects on the health of the population.
Furthermore, such mining whether it happens in water catchment areas or elsewhere in Kedah would basically violate sustainable development Goal 15 that Malaysia is part of, which is to protect and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forest, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Acid would like to remind the environment minister that all this protection is not a sacrifice or can be compensated with money. It seems that Tuan Ibrahim lacks the depth of wisdom on the environment.
Ronald Benjamin
Ipoh
