A poet is donating RM10,000 to the people of Bukit Koman, whose four-year legal battle against a gold mining company in their midst has been brought to naught with Thursday's decision of the Federal Court – which also ordered them to pay RM15,000 as costs.
Teh Hon Seng (right), who is also a columnist withMalaysiakini'sChinese site, announced through his Facebookyesterday that his company would contribute the amount to “support green and justice”.
Teh, who is chief executive officer of FingerTec Worldwide, toldMalaysiakini that he hopes the contribution would inspire more corporations to support civil society movements and underprivileged groups.
He explained that it was always an uphill task for such groups to raise funds, especially since corporate donations to them do not enjoy tax rebates. Also, many corporations do not want to be seen linked with the social movement.
Teh's announcement was soon followed by independent documentary director Zhou Z Lam and book distributor Liow Yeong Lih, who donated RM1,000 each to the Bukit Koman residents' legal costs.
Teh Hon Seng (right), who is also a columnist withMalaysiakini'sChinese site, announced through his Facebookyesterday that his company would contribute the amount to “support green and justice”.Teh, who is chief executive officer of FingerTec Worldwide, toldMalaysiakini that he hopes the contribution would inspire more corporations to support civil society movements and underprivileged groups.
He explained that it was always an uphill task for such groups to raise funds, especially since corporate donations to them do not enjoy tax rebates. Also, many corporations do not want to be seen linked with the social movement.
Teh's announcement was soon followed by independent documentary director Zhou Z Lam and book distributor Liow Yeong Lih, who donated RM1,000 each to the Bukit Koman residents' legal costs.
'Battle far from over'
Bukit Koman Anti-Cyanide Committee chairperson Wong Kim Hoong expressed his gratitude for the donations, adding that their battle was far from over.
“The court used the 40-day time limit to 'kill' us, which is not convincing at all. The judiciary should be fair, but this time justice was forgotten.
“The court did not give us a chance, or a platform, to raise our woes,” Wong said when contacted byMalaysiakini.
The Federal Court on Thursdaydismissed the Bukit Koman residents' appeal to compel Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd (RAGM) to conduct a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) of its gold mining activities.
The appeal was filed after their initial application was dismissed by High Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2009, on grounds that they had filed their application out of the 40-day time limit.
Wong said the committee would call a press conference soon to announce the details of its fund-raising activities.
Bukit Koman Anti-Cyanide Committee chairperson Wong Kim Hoong expressed his gratitude for the donations, adding that their battle was far from over.
“The court used the 40-day time limit to 'kill' us, which is not convincing at all. The judiciary should be fair, but this time justice was forgotten.
“The court did not give us a chance, or a platform, to raise our woes,” Wong said when contacted byMalaysiakini.The Federal Court on Thursdaydismissed the Bukit Koman residents' appeal to compel Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd (RAGM) to conduct a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) of its gold mining activities.
The appeal was filed after their initial application was dismissed by High Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2009, on grounds that they had filed their application out of the 40-day time limit.
Wong said the committee would call a press conference soon to announce the details of its fund-raising activities.
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