Six cycle for three days for Raub 'green rally'

Six cyclists who had cycled for three days were among the thousands who gathered for yesterday’s ‘Himpunan Hijau’ in Raub, Pahang, to protest the use of cyanide in gold mining operations in Bukit Koman.

Freelance photographer Hugo Teng (left), 32, and five friends who love cycling and who have a strong interest in environmental issues, had started their ride in Kuala Lumpur.

Teng said they had stopped whenever they could to spread the message about the rally, by displaying a banner and socialising with those whom they encountered.

                    

"We chatted with people to tell them about the rally and the issues involved. The majority said they support the green movement, although a few said that what we are doing is useless," he said.

He also found out that local NGOs had refused to take part in the rally because it had received sponsorship from a political party.

"We will go to the Bentong MCA division (today) to pass on the message from the protesters,” he said.

Teng expressed disappointment that the majority of the protesters were Chinese Malaysians, saying that this should have been seen as an issue of national concern.

It was observed that the Malay and Indian Malaysians made up 40 percent of the protesters.

K Nadeson (left) , 52, a lorry driver from Raub, said only a few Indian Malaysians had turned up because most are employed on oil palm plantations and at a palm oil refinery owned by Andrew Kam, the chairperson of Raub Australia Gold Mining Sdn Bhd.

However, Nadeson said he believes that those who were absent do support the call to stop the use of cyanide.

A Forestry Department employee, who only gave his name as Shaharudin, said he lives two kilometres from the gold mine.

He explained that few Malays were at the rally because many families were busy with a kenduri (feast), but claimed that they too are concerned about environmental issues.

Diversity of support

 

Wendy Lim, 41, from Pengerang in Johor, participated in the rally with her husband and two pairs of twin sons aged four and seven.

The quantity surveyor said her interest grew after reading an online forum, which had earlier influenced her decision to participate in the Bersih 3.0 rally in April.

"I am particularly interested in environmental issues because the tombs of seven of my family-members and ancestors will be affected by the (disputed) petrolchemical project (in Pengerang)," she said.

‘Mama Bersih’ member and insurance agent Ng Kai Chan said the group had gathered 150 protesters, including husbands of members, for the rally.

The group comprises working mothers, who can only contribute to the social movement after taking care of their families and career needs, she explained.

Ng said she has tried to instill in her daughters, aged 13 and 9, the importance of environmental and social issues.

"My little girl who used to love to wear clothing with images of the Smurfs and Angry Birds , now (likes to) wear the ‘Stop Lynas’ t-shirt. She has also distributed flyers during campaigns," she said.

 

Chen Chee Thing, 34, said his father-in-law who lives in Bukit Koman, has suffered from skin irritation off and on for the past two years.

"Sometimes, my in-laws smell something strange, like chemicals, in the air," he said.

However, the thought of leaving Bukit Koman is hard to bear because the family has lived there for a long time, he added.