KUANTAN, MALAYSIA: The Pahang government has given an assurance that the use of cyanide in gold-mining activities at Bukit Koman, Raub, is not hazardous.

State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said that sufficient measures had been taken to ensure the people and environment would not be adversely affected by the mining.

He said this included the installation of 20 water quality monitoring outlets at a large siltation pond and two hydrogen cyanide gas detection units.

Tests on discharged water to check for cyanide, arsenic and pH contents are conducted on a daily basis.

"A worker is also stationed at the site to check the piping system that channels the discharged water from the processing plant to the siltation pond," he said when replying to a written question from Datuk Chuah Boon Seong (BN-Mentakab) during the Pahang State Assembly yesterday.

He added that the Mineral and Geoscience Department had increased inspections to the site from once a month to once a fortnight and samples were tested by qualified mining engineers.

To a supplementary question by Choong Siew Onn (DAP-Tras), Hoh said reports by the departments involved showed that minimal traces of cyanide were found.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob also pointed out that none of the residents living near the mining area nor the workers had been treated for cyanide-related diseases.

The mine is owned by Raub Australia Gold Mining Sdn Bhd.