Red rivers and death: Natives fight iron ore mining in Kelantan rainforest | Rudimentary mining under shacks may have poisoned water, food and even the Temiar community.

Rudimentary mining under shacks may have poisoned water, food and even the Temiar community.

This series was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Clutching a mengkuang-weave bag tightly to her chest, Alang Angah’s face clouded with anguish at the mention of her late father, Angah Alang.

What it took to produce this story

To produce this series, Malaysiakini journalist S Vinothaa, photojournalist Azneal Ishak, and KiniTV multimedia journalist Khoo Shiyuan made multiple five-hour journeys from Kuala Lumpur to Kampung Kelaik from February to November 2024, via bumpy rides along logging trails.

The reporting included interviewing the affected community, hiking up to the mines, consulting with scientists and medical professionals, conducting independent water, blood, fish, and fern sampling and testing, and researching the iron ore mining supply chain from the hinterlands of Kelantan to the world.

Each trip to Kampung Kelaik costs at least RM1,000 - not including the costs of guides, laboratory testing, and medical checks.

Some of the cost of reporting was supported by grants, but the salaries of the reporting team, translators, editors, a web developer, and a graphic designer were paid for by Malaysiakini.

Your support can help us do more impactful reporting just like this.

If you believe we should do more, do consider donating to the Kini News Lab. You can also show your support to the Kampung Kelaik villagers and hear their stories first-hand at an event on Dec 14, 2024.