Housing residents in Lutong Baru complain that their neighborhoods polluted and disturbed by the existence of a processing plant of mixed concrete and precast reinforced concrete piles.
MIX EQ Sdn Bhd, which has been more than a year of operation in a residential area is very dangerous and threatens the health of the surrounding population. Waste products are dumped in a nearby river and residential roads damaged by Lorries that regularly use the road.
Most plant workers consists of Iban, Chinese, and as well as foreigners. 6 to 7 Lorries loaded with 20 tons of cargo uncovered convoy in the early morning lead dust flying in and around the housing. Lorry driver driving at a speed more than 30km / h can be life threatening to the residents using the road there.
Residents are known as Abd Rahim and Haji Jahangir had reported the matter to the Miri City Council (MCC), Department of Land and Surveys, Department of Environment (DOE), the Natural Resources and Environment Sarawak, Resident Office, Sebastian Ting and also to the Minister of Industrial Development, Minister of Second Resource Planning and Environment & Minister of Public Utilities, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, but all to no avail.
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah had promised to the people and also in the Sarawak state assembly that the plant will be moved to other areas but why until now the plant continues to operate? They also regret the elected representatives for Senadin unwilling to present even been invited by a resident representative to see the area
The plant keep on operating as usual as if nothing happened. They seem to be immune from lawsuits until they are dare continue operating. Who is behind the management of the plant until they dare to break the law and do not care about the problems of local residents who complained? The plant should not be allowed to operate in residential areas but why the plant continues to operate and no action was taken?
According to local residents that we met, they tell us, plant operations continue to run through the night and this interferes with the comfort of housing residents when they want to sleep with the noise of lorries that transporting the concrete mixture through the residential lane.
Not only discompose even those who have ashma also affected by the dust and pollution of the plant.
Their clothing items being dried too being dirty affected by dust. Similarly, pedestrians can be threatened by the route used by a speeding lorry. One of the residents there also was threatened with a ‘parang’ by a lorry driver when he rebuked the lorry driver to be careful using the residential lane.
Some of the residential houses that are cracked due to vibration of the concrete mix plant operations near their homes. The plant is only separated by a river with the house of the complainant. They already complained using the proper channels, but no action was taken by the authorities and they are really hope this can be resolved by the authorities as soon as possible, given the circumstances of their lives are often disrupted for a long time without any protection and the action taken by the authorities.
We urge the authorities and those concerned be able to act immediately to address the problem from prolonged for the safety and health of local residents, regardless of race, religion and political affiliation. Cooperation with relevant parties to resolve this issue is greatly appreciated.
*** Media statement by Jofri Jaraiee, PAS Miri Chief cum PAS Sarawak Deputy Commissioner III
