ampung Nibong and Kampung

 A daily routine of more than 1,000 residents in Kampung Nibong and Kampung Wakaf Simen, near here, has been hit harder for more than two months, when their main source of contaminated water supplies is allegedly due to logging activities.

Disappointed after no action had been taken, although complaints had been made to the relevant parties, residents of the two villages gathered peacefully to protest against the logging activity here, yesterday.

The Nibong Water Net Committee chairman Kamaruzaman Derahman, 51, claimed that logging activities on Bukit Kemahang caused a watershed or marker catchment which became the main source of water supply for the affected population.

His story, the logging activity caused the water supply to become turbid and cluttered, especially after the rain and the situation would last for several days.

"The problem of dirty water and can not be used immediately causes people to buy mineral water for daily use and this condition is definitely burdening the villagers," he said, yesterday.

Kamaruzaman claimed that the problem arose several days before Ramadan, when the parties started logging activities in the quarry sector owned by a quarry mining company on the hill.

"Some complaints have been made including sending a letter of protest to the state forestry office and State Land and Mines Office on Aug 7 but until today, no action was taken," he said.

A resident, Hassan Mohamad, 43, claimed that the problem was also complained to the quarry company, but the party ignored the hardship of the people.

"For me, there are many children who are still in school, the problem of dirty water is very troublesome especially to wash their school clothes so they have to send them to the laundry.

"For those who can not afford to send a laundry shop, they have to overtake the wells or boring water of the neighbors but are also ashamed that every day," he said, there were six children.

Hence, he urged the authorities to take action to overcome the problem including stopping logging activities in areas near the water mark.

For Mastura Harun, the problem of murky and wrinkled water caused her son's school clothes to be yellow, and even the water could not be used to take ablution for being too dirty.

"I asked the parties to bring us back the water and do not disturb the water spill which is our main source of water supply since decades ago," he said.

Hasnah Mohamad was unable to resist her when she told her difficulty because of the problem of dirty water, which is like the color of tea.

"I can not afford to live in such a condition as to wash clothes and can not afford to buy mineral water for daily use," he said.