PUTRAJAYA, March 7 — The bauxite mining moratorium, which is due to expire on March 31, is likely to be extended again, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Jaafar. 

He said the extension was needed since red mud from the bauxite stockpile area was still flowing into the area near the Kuantan Port during the last rainy season.

However, he said, the extension for "another three months or more” would depend on the Cabinet’s decision.

"We will report to the Cabinet and see what the Cabinet says,” he told Bernama when met at his office here today.

For the record, the bauxite mining moratorium started on Jan 15 last year and was extended several times with the latest period to expire on March 31.

Wan Junaidi said Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had also ordered that "everyone” not just the government or licenced miners to cover up the holes dug up for mining. 

"This requires every relevant parties to cooperate to solve this issue. This is because some private land is beyond the ministry’s access because it belongs to private ownership or a company,” he said.

Yesterday, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob had hinted that the moratorium on bauxite mining in the state would likely be extended for another three months. — Bernama