Kuantan residents’ anti-bauxite mining petition rejected in Parliament

PKR's Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh says it is unfair of Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia not to listen to both sides of the 'bauxite mining' issue before dismissing the request to debate the matter in the Dewan Rakyat. – The Malaysian Insider pic, November 25, 2015.A petition signed by 2,400 Kuantan residents to stop bauxite mining in the Pahang capital that has left the town with red roads and red rivers was rejected by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia today.

The petition was submitted two weeks ago under Standing Order 19 (1) by Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, but Pandikar, in a decision made in his chambers, said that he was satisfied with the government's explanation on the matter, and hence it need not be debated in Parliament.

"I find this excuse very unreasonable. Why is the speaker siding with the government's version?" Fuziah said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby later.

Fuziah was not even allowed to read the petition at the Parliament lobby by deputy speaker Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said, who was presiding.

Earlier today, almost 100 Kuantan residents with assemblymen from the concerned areas and civil society groups made their way to Parliament hoping for the petition to be heard.

"They have been waiting under the rain and they were not allowed inside," Fuziah said.

The residents set up banners protesting bauxite mining on the road leading up to Parliament.

Among the demands in the petition is for bauxite export licenses to be suspended and for an environmental impact assessment to be done.

Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman and Temerloh MP Nassruddin Hassan were also present during the press conference. – November 25, 2015.