Bintulu MP Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing JP BINTULU-The decision to establish an aluminium smelter plant at Similajau near here reflected the Government's strong concern to develop the livelihood of the people in the State as well as their wellbeings. The Bintulu Member of Parliament, Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing said that the health and environmental aspects would surely be taken into account before the proceeding of any agreement for the project to commence. "I am very sure that the Government are more interested to safeguard the interests of the people, not only for better living standard but also towards their health and environment," he said when commenting on a newsreport by a national tabloid recently. The tabloid in its 4 October issue had quoted Borneo Resources Institute's coordinator, Raymond Abin who claimed that the aluminium smelting plant project as a very high-risk project because it can produce waste products that are toxic to humans and the environment. Abin said the institute, claimed to be an environmental watchdog group with extensive neworking in Asia, Europe and United States, was also surprised that the State Government had approved the project without making public the type of pollution threats that the smelter might pose. Tiong was saddened to note the approach taken by the institute which he likened as political in nature and unprofessional for not being able to substanstiate their claims while being narrow-minded in explaining the well-beings of the people. "They are only interested about having themselves heard, whereas they also could not deny that the project would be generating ample opportunity for business and employment for the rakyats," he added. If the intention of the institute was sincere towards safeguarding the people, he said that they should have sought the opinions of professionals and study the development of the technology that ensured environmental-friendly implementation of the project. "They can always approach the Government departments concerned to find out about the environmental impact assessment of the project and definitely, the Government will not proceed with the project if its operation could pose risk to the rakyats," he added. Tiong further stressed that the decision to approve the project was also materialised by the confidence of the foreign investors towards the condition in the State and the potentials for it to be developed further. "While we should be thankful to the Government farsightedness in identifying this project as another move to accelerate the development in Bintulu, I also felt sad that some people are trying to make it sensitive by relating it to the health and environmental issues," he added.