By Rosli Mansor and Ahmad Razali
IPOH: “Even getting a good night’s sleep is difficult. Every blast can be felt shaking the house.”
That was the frustration expressed by retiree Harun Aziz, 63, who claims he has endured years of noise disturbances and strong vibrations from quarry activities near his home in RPT Batu 10, Chepor Indah, and Kampung Hijrah.
Harun said his house, located about 200 metres from the quarry site, is not only exposed to excessive noise during operations but has also suffered repeated structural damage.
“Every time there is a blast, the roof ridge shakes and pieces of cement fall off. I have repaired it many times and hired contractors to patch it up again.
“The latest incident happened while I was sleeping at about 10am. My bed shook, and the whole house vibrated. When I checked, more cement had fallen from the roof ridge,” he said during a site visit by Manjoi assemblyman Mohd Hafez Sabri and affected residents yesterday.
He said reports had been lodged with the Perak Land and Mines Office (PTG), but no follow-up action had been taken so far.
According to Harun, his house was built using C25-grade concrete and Y12 steel reinforcement, yet the vibrations allegedly caused by quarry blasting continue to affect the structure.
“Imagine this. Even a house built according to engineering standards can shake this badly,” he said.
Apart from vibrations, Harun said dust pollution has become increasingly severe, forcing residents to keep doors and windows shut and clean their vehicles daily.
Another resident, Zulkafli Mat Saleh, 69, said the area behind his home has changed significantly since quarry activities intensified.
He claimed that a small water channel behind his house has widened considerably since 2010 due to soil erosion and land subsidence, which eventually caused the collapse of his perimeter fence in 2016.
“There are several water retention ponds at the quarry, and when heavy rain occurs, the overflow worsens the water flow behind my house.
“I spent more than RM15,000 on repairs, but the structure collapsed again this year. When I reported the matter, I was instead blamed for having a weak construction,” he said.
Meanwhile, resident Noryani Jamaluddin, 50, said the most visible impact has been damage to homes, including cracked walls, roofs and ceilings.
“The cost of repairs keeps increasing. We have to fix the damage repeatedly, and it has become a heavy burden,” she said, urging the authorities to take immediate action.
Another resident, Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali, 56, said strong vibrations could still be felt even though his house is located about one kilometre from the quarry site.
“I still remember what happened on May 28 at about 10.17am. The vibration was so strong that my sliding door and laptop moved. My wife, who was lying down at the time, was startled and screamed,” he said.
Rosli added that cracks have also appeared on the bedroom ceiling, kitchen tiles and several exterior sections of his home.
He expressed hope that the issue raised by Hafez would pave the way for stricter action against the quarry operator.
According to him, the area, once known for its lush limestone hills and scenic greenery, has changed dramatically due to continuous quarrying activities.
“The hills used to be beautiful, green and often covered in morning mist. Today, the landscape has been transformed, and what was once a scenic view has become an eyesore.
“The loss of the hill slopes has also contributed to stronger windstorms in the area. The roof of my house has been blown off several times. If quarry activities continue unchecked, the sustainability of the natural environment will be threatened.
“It is not only the quality of life of residents that is being affected, but also the habitat of local flora and fauna,” he said.
