The Environment Department's analyses of water samples from around Kuantan port have found the samples to contain metal contents that are higher than permissible for a designated recreation area.
However, tests done on samples of fish and shellfish from the area, by the Fisheries Department in August and September, showed no trace of metal contaminants, Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Hamim Samuri said.
"At the same time, the ministry views the bauxite mining activities in Kuantan, Pahang, seriously.
"In the initial stages of the mining activities, there was pollution around the Kuantan Port caused by the poor bauxite stockpile management in the port and surrounding areas," Hamim told the Dewan Negara today.
Aside from bauxite mining, Hamim (
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) also identified 11 other sectors operating around the port, including cooking oil refinery, pipe coating, fertiliser, granite and oleochemical industries.
He said this in response to Senator Hoh Khai Mun, who inquired on sources of pollution around Kuantan port and the steps taken to address the problem.
"Of the 34 premises operated by these industries, only 15 premises have effluent release, and based on inspection, the effluents released are allowed under the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009," Hamim said.
He said the ministry recommended that Best Management Practices are used in managing the bauxite stockpile, surface run-off management, bauxite transportation management and dust control.
Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh has previously raised concerns over pollution of at least four rivers around Kuantan as a result of bauxite mining activities.
It was reported that the bauxite mines have been shipping increasing amounts of bauxite for aluminium production in China, filling in the gap after Indonesia banned the ore exports in January last year to encourage value-added processing at home.
Malaysia supplied 1.27 million tonnes of bauxite to China in the first nine months of last year, 12 times more than the 105,000 tonnes shipped during the same period in 2013.
