Rahman Hydraulic Tin Sdn Bhd, which has been operating since 1907, is using a closed water circulation system where the water used in the mining operation is recycled. ― Pictures by Farhan Najib
“The discharge water from the processing plant are placed in tailing ponds, which traps the waste. The waste here is the suspended soil and arsenic as the ore here contains the chemical. Reports of arsenic chemical in Sungai Rui waters and allegations of skin cancer developing among the nearby populace was highlighted on April 4 by Perak Education, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Abdul Aziz Bari during a press conference.
Ahmad Faizal confirmed the pH level of Sungai Rui was on the high side and temporarily suspended all logging activities along Sungai Rui, even as he acknowledged that authorities have yet to find any direct link. “However, we are doing a ‘laundry job’ as we still treat the river waters using hydrated lime which bring down the pH level to 0.05 even though the water from the river is not contaminated by us,” he said.
“This is possibly due to other activities surrounding the mining site such as forest clearing, agriculture, tin mining, old tailing and sand processing,” he said.