By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Manjoi assemblyman Mohd Hafez Sabri has called for immediate action over quarry blasting activities near Chepor Indah, RPT Batu 10 and Kampung Hijrah, which residents claim have caused damage to their homes and disrupted their lives for almost two decades.
“This is no longer a minor issue. It is a public safety issue that has been left unresolved for far too long,” he said after inspecting the affected areas yesterday morning.
Hafez said observations on the ground found that many houses had suffered cracked walls, damaged ceilings and drainage problems allegedly linked to vibrations caused by quarry blasting activities.
He said residents had claimed that blasting occurred as frequently as two to three times a week.
“Residents should not have to live in fear in their own homes,” he said.
Hafez said he would seek explanations from the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG), the Perak Land and Mines Office (PTG) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) regarding compliance with operational permit requirements for the quarry.
According to him, the state government must ensure that residents’ safety is not compromised for economic interests or corporate profits.
“We are not against development, but profit cannot come at the expense of public safety. The state government must also ensure that all permit conditions are fully complied with,” he said.
Apart from concerns over blasting vibrations, Hafez also raised questions about the presence of a large-scale water retention pond located at the top of the quarry, describing it as a potential safety risk should any structural failure occur.
He said the matter would be brought to the Kinta District Development Action Committee (JTPD) meeting before being raised at the Perak State Legislative Assembly if no concrete solution is reached.
At the same time, residents are also calling for a compensation mechanism to help repair damage to homes allegedly caused by quarry operations in the area.
More than 20 residents attended the site visit and engagement session.
