The Terengganu Government fully supports the Cabinet’s drastic measure to temporarily suspend bauxite mining in Kuantan, Pahang, due to various environmental issues arising from the mining activities.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said it was the best step taken by the government to defuse the tensions before a better mining method is found.
“Actually, there would be no problems with the mining (of bauxite) if it was done in a proper manner, and the state government is fully supportive of the Cabinet’s decision.
“Terengganu itself had taken a number of measures, including not issuing any new permits for mining activities as well as tightening control in the affected areas.
“We have also sent a letter of protest to the Pahang Government to prevent vehicles from carrying bauxite to the Kemaman port,” he told reporters after the Back to School programme for the Seberang Takir state constituency here, today.
Ahmad Razif said the state government was also reviewing the terms of the law to disallow the Kemaman port from exporting bauxite.
Meanwhile, on Information Technology (IT) officers who were placed in schools to regulate e-Books, Ahmad Razif said their contracts would be extended based on the performance of the officers involved.
“If they do not perform well, do not meet the requirements of the government, then their contracts would not be renewed because they have to follow the rules.
“The post is based on a yearly contract and it is the government’s right to discontinue (their services) based on their performance,” he said.
He said the post (IT officer) itself had been abolished, but the officers whose contracts were still continued would be placed in government departments and agencies or government-linked companies (GLCs).
