TAWAU: The collapse of a tailings dam at a gold mining operation in Bukit Mantri has raised serious environmental concerns over potential cyanide contamination of the Kalumpang River and surrounding areas, with Merotai Assemblyman Sarifuddin Hata calling for comprehensive investigations into the incident.
Sarifuddin described the breach of the containment facility, which stored toxic cyanide waste, as having irregularities that could have been prevented with proper mitigation plans and standard operating procedures.
The incident has also exposed a dispute between two gold mining concession companies operating in Bukit Mantri.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“We believe the leakage and collapse of the dam storing toxic cyanide waste occurred due to weaknesses in the facility’s maintenance system,” Sarifuddin said, Tuesday.
He dismissed the company’s claims of environmental compliance as deception and fact-twisting.
Sarifuddin noted irregularities in authorities issuing stern warnings when the affected facility was maintained by the company.
He said a concession company had officially notified the Department of Environment in 2023 that they were no longer the operator in the area and had cancelled their Environmental Impact Assessment approval.
While the company has reportedly obtained a court injunction to repair the damaged dam and existing drainage, Sarifuddin expressed concerns that the company might abuse this injunction by encroaching on the concession company’s land to build new drainage channels that could discharge acidic water into nearby rivers.
“We hope the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission can conduct an investigation as the world is watching how we handle this devastating environmental disaster,” he said.
Numerous government agencies have responded to the incident, including the Department of Environment, Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, State Health Department, Fire and Rescue Department and State Forestry Department, coordinated through the District Disaster Action Meeting led by Tawau Municipal Council.
Field inspections revealed that the company-owned dam collapsed due to leakage, causing contained water to overflow and flood worker housing and fruit orchards, with fears of contamination reaching the Kalumpang River.
Sarifuddin characterised the incident as a serious environmental disaster requiring urgent action to protect the environment, wildlife and public health from potential pollution impacts.
