Orang Asli Vs Jakoa Conflicting Accounts On Polluted River Complaints

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Conflicting accounts over whether Orang Asli in Kampung Kelaik had lodged complaints about their rivers - which turned rusty red following mining activities that began in 2009 - have emerged.
“There are now two conflicting statements,” Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Rubiah Wang said, who was responding on behalf of the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa).
Rubiah said this yesterday in response to Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong’s motion raised at the Special Chambers of Parliament concerning the suspected heavy metal poisoning of a Temiar community in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
Earlier, Khoo questioned Jakoa’s claims of not receiving complaints on the river pollution.
A Malaysiakini exposé last December revealed high levels of chromium - a carcinogenic heavy metal - in the blood of one of six Orang Asli villagers whose families have been living downriver from iron ore mine operations in their customary land for generations.
During the discussion, Khoo asserted that villagers had sent protest letters, including one delivered by hand.
“Because the community is unfamiliar with keeping records, they only have one letter as proof,” he said, pointing out that as someone hailing from Sarawak, Rubiah would be aware of their lifestyle.
The DAP MP pointed out that since 2009, the village’s river has turned red due to pollution from iron ore mining.
Despite two previous reports - in 2012 and 2014, the Orang Asli’s plight was left unaddressed.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Rubiah WangHe said the illegal mining activities not only contaminated their water sources and rivers but also significantly impacted their livelihoods.
Last December, responding to the revelations in the exposé, PSM Environment, Climate Crisis and Orang Asli Bureau coordinator Suresh Balasubramaniam described how he had witnessed the community’s uphill struggle to safeguard their health, way of life, and customary lands since 2012, reaching out to several government agencies to no avail.
ADSFollowing Malaysiakini’s exposé, both mining operations were halted over suspected heavy metal contamination in nearby rivers, pending investigations.
The Health Ministry has conducted a health screening and collected blood, hair, and fingernail samples from about 60 villagers but did not disclose the full scope of tests conducted.
Jakoa outreach officer frequents villages
Rubiah emphasised that she was not being defensive but simply stating that Jakoa had not received complaints – whether at the district, state or headquarters level.
She also pointed out conflicting accounts, as Jakoa’s discussions with villagers resulted in denials that complaints had even been made.
“But if there is a complaint, please share it with us and we will investigate.
“To ensure the welfare of the indigenous people, we not only go to the ground, but we also have our outreach officers who frequently visit the area,” Rubiah explained.
She also said the issue was never raised at the annual gathering of village chiefs (tok batin) after Khoo suggested the department check its records again.
Further asserting the department’s ignorance of the Orang Asli’s plight, Rubiah said it only learned of the pollution after reading Malaysiakini’s report.
Deputy minister surprised over lawsuit
However, Khoo was unimpressed and asked: “Why is Jakoa unaware of the lawsuits filed against it by the Kampung Kelaik residents?”
Rubiah admitted she was surprised to learn that Jakoa was one of the several respondents named in a lawsuit.
Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay TiongShe confirmed that, so far, no (suit) documents had been received, and suggested it may have been sent to the ministry, as Jakoa falls under its jurisdiction and its legal officers are also within the ministry.
The suit goes to court in March.
No record of pollution-linked illnesses
Rubiah, referencing discussions with the Health Ministry, said there were no records of diseases linked to pollution since 2009.
“From 2009 to 2024, the Health Ministry reported no cases linked to pollution being identified.
“In special discussions, the ministry also found no records of relevant diseases related to pollution,” she added.
A medical professional who treated some of the villagers for skin ailments told Malaysiakini she could not rule out the river water as the cause of the contact dermatitis.
Rubiah said the Environment Department (DOE) was still investigating the site as pollution persists despite the cessation of mining operations.
“According to the DOE, contamination in the river remains,” she added.
Different water samples?
Rubiah also sought to correct Khoo’s claims that the department had submitted water samples from a source that had no mines upstream for heavy metals testing - which led the Health Ministry to issue a statement suggesting that the red river was not contaminated by heavy metals from the mines.
Khoo also questioned why the water samples were not tested for bacteria contamination, given that the water is used for bathing and drinking.
“The treated water provided to Kampung Kelaik residents comes from hillside sources, not the river, to ensure a safe water supply.
“Therefore, the claim that Jakoa provided incorrect water samples is untrue,” she said.
It should be noted that Kampung Kelaik villagers do not have access to piped water.
Ten days after the Malaysiakini’s report, the Health Ministry announced that samples from the water sources used by Kampung Kelaik were free from heavy metal contamination.
When Malaysiakini visited earlier last year, the village’s small “tandak” (water catchment) on a different hill, was filled with sand and debris, and villagers reported that the pipes would become clogged after heavy rain, leaving them without water for days - except for the nearby rust-coloured waters of Sungai Cenderoh and Sungai Kelaik.
Despite this, villagers continue to rely on these rivers for bathing and washing, where they also catch fish and frogs. - Mkini

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