‘Selcat’s decision on use of ex-mining water hasty’

(The Rakyat Post) – Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago says that people need to be meticulous even if they are making the simplest of salads.

“Or, the ensemble would look chaotic and taste suspect, just like the conclusion derived by the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat).

Santiago was referring to Selcat chairman Hannah Yeoh telling the media she was satisfied with the testimony of two officers from the Chemistry Department and Health Ministry, who said that water extracted from ex-mining ponds were safe for public consumption.

Santiago was concerned that based on these testimonies, Yeoh would present Selcat’s findings to the state assembly for a debate.

“I, too, testified at the special hearing. So did Kelana Jaya’s MP Wong Chen.

“I had repeatedly raised concerns about the presence of heavy metals in the Bestari Jaya ex-mining pond, substantiated by a comprehensive research study conducted by experts from University Malaya.”

To combat drought, the state government wants to extract water from ex-mining ponds, channel it to Sungai Selangor and pump it into homes after the water is treated in the treatment plant.

The treatment plant, however, was not sufficiently equipped to clean out heavy metals, he pointed out.

Therefore, it is not safe to derive a conclusion just from relying on the testimonies of government officers.

“Yeoh has nonchalantly dismissed five years of academic research, which was published in international journals, did not get the academics involved in the research to testify at the closed door hearing and did not bother to consult independent academics and experts such as chemists and geologists — given conflicting views.

“This is especially so when more academics have come forward to question the wisdom of using ex-mine water, particularly when it has not been treated or rehabilitated.

Santiago expressed disappointment that Yeoh did not wait to clarify the issue before shooting a statement and giving interviews to the media.

“In short, Yeoh and Selcat, which is supposed to be independent of the Selangor state government, have done a big disservice to the people of Selangor.

“Furthermore, I fear that the state assembly which meets next week will be misled by the report.

“The truth is that we can live with a salad that is haphazardly made by a clueless cook.

“But consuming water contaminated with heavy metals … will spell disaster for our health.”