LAWMAKERS in Perak have no clue if the radiation levels in Kg Bukit Merah are high or not as the site was last checked three years ago.

Menglembu assemblyman Steven Chaw Kam Foon told The Malaysian Insight that in 2017 experts came from Japan to check the site and declared the radiation levels as still high.

“They tested the site (factory) and found that the levels were extremely high.

“Their readings were beyond the safety limits. The experts then took soil samples back to their country for further tests,” he said after attending a lantern festival at Kg Bukit Merah over the weekend.

That was the last time the area was tested and nothing has been done since, he said.

“As for the factory, we don’t know if other experts have conducted any tests. We are also not sure now if the radiation levels are safe or not.”

The Malaysian Insight reported that residents of Kg Bukit Merah remain unsure if their area is free from radioactive contamination that struck their village more than 30 years ago.

The state government, they said, has not informed them if it has been carrying out periodic checks at the site of an abandoned chemical factory to ensure their safety.

The residents are concerned about the Asian Rare Earth Sdn Bhd (ARE, a company owned by Mitsubishi Chemicals) which had been forced to shut down in the 1990s over its radioactive waste.

Investigations in 1984 found that the radioactive waste originated from the factory located about 100m from the village.

“We have not forgotten the sufferings of the people here. We haven’t taken any action (since Pakatan Harapan took over the state after GE14) but we will definitely look into this issue. We are concerned about the people here.

“We also need to get more details from the state government,” said Chaw.

He denied Perak is trying to cover up the issue and said he will raise it with the education, science, technology and environment exco Dr Abdul Aziz Bari.

“I will bring this issue with him (Aziz) as soon as possible.

“We will also visit the site as we know this concerns the people.”

Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar said that about three years ago, civil society organisations came to take readings and found that the factory site was still radioactive.

“We were shown the readings and they were very minimal. We don’t think it will cause any issues. Not at the moment.

“For now, we have not received complaints linked to this site,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Sivakumar said he will call on the Atomic Energy Licensing Board to check the factory.

“I will get AELB to come as soon as possible. I will ask them to come and check the area.”

When asked when was the last time the Bukit Merah area was checked for radioactive contamination, Sivakumar said no checks have been done.

Former Menglembu assemblyman Lim Pek Har also acknowledged that the authorities didn’t check Bukit Merah regularly.

“The last we know of was three years ago when an anti-radioactive organisation came and did some readings.

“We didn’t check (Bukit Merah) since the waste was moved to Bukit Kledang.

“Now, the state government must carry out the checks (test the area for radiation) and inform the residents.”

She said the residents might be worried because of the concerns raised over the rare-earth supplier Lynas in Gebeng, near Kuantan, Pahang.

“I think they are worried about the radioactive waste because of the Lynas issue.”

Residents in Gebeng are opposed to Lynas’ operations on grounds that it produces radioactive waste. – September 10, 2019.