By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 30: The management and security of Mount Tabai in Bau will be enhanced to prevent unauthorised intrusions, particularly in response to illegal gold mining activities that have claimed lives.
Highlighting this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan noted the current inadequacies in security measures around the mountain.
“Mount Tabai is part of the area gazetted as a national park, but its facilities are still lacking. We are working to improve this,” he told reporters after officiating the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) Innovative and Creative Group Convention ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel here last night (Aug 29).
Awang Tengah made these remarks in response to the recent tragic death of a 26-year-old Indonesian national, Yoga Anggiska, who was buried under a landslide while illegally mining gold at Mount Tabai early this week.
Commenting on the incident, Awang Tengah pointed out that these illegal miners have been attempting to extract gold by digging into the area, and the authorities are unable to determine their points of entry.
“Actions against those who trespass and engage in illegal gold mining will be determined following a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities,” he said, adding that the Ministry is awaiting the outcome of the investigation, which involves several agencies, including the police.
“We’ll proceed based on the findings,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday (Aug 29), a search and rescue (SAR) team recovered the body of the Indonesian miner approximately 90 metres inside a shaft within the mountain.
The victim from Kerinci, Indonesia, had been buried under the landslide since Aug 13.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching alerted and filed a report with the Bau District Police Headquarters (IPS) on the missing victim only on Aug 23 after receiving a report from the victim’s family and friends.
A SAR operation was launched on Aug 24, and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak was called in on Aug 27.
Bau District Police Chief DSP Jawai Francis Kempas, who was present during the recovery operation, stated that the decomposed body would be transported to the police’s Forensic Unit for further action. — DayakDaily
