Mr. Aldan Smayil, while serving as a 5th Convocation MP, raised inconvenient questions, demanding their solution. Given the latest development in the country, Nege.kz discussed with the former MP various topical problems that concern many Kazakhstanis.
— Aldan Zeynollauly, the death of 46 miners in an accident at the Kostenko mine in Karaganda has shocked the entire country. As a native of that region and a former deputy, can you tell us where the state has made a mistake?
— My father wanted me to study at the Mining Faculty of the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute, so I enrolled there. In the first year, we were brought to a coal mine. We entered a tin elevator. It was dark. Candlelight was dim everywhere. A thunderous sound was heard. I had never been in a mine before; there was a nervous atmosphere inside. There was a strange smell, similar to that coming from gas panels. We approached the miners. They were digging the earth with tools in their hands. Coal dust is terrible. The workers’ faces seemed to be painted with coal.
It was then, that I first saw the daily life of the coal-miners. And then I did some thinking and questioned whether it would be worth doing studies for 5 years only to live under the surface for the rest of my life. That is why, I dropped out. My Father was mad. Later, I relocated to Almaty and entered the Philology Faculty of the Kazakh State University.
Indeed, accidents in mines are regular phenomenon. Companies, that bought mines, Karaganda Region administration, Emergency Response and Relief – all of them are well-aware of all dangers ambushing miners down there. There are things there, that may explode. Even if miners survive, the methane concentration may exceed the permissible level. Those things must be watched. Region and city administrations must work to prevent that.
And the company should check the safety of the equipment. They must report on this. There used to be many accidents. But I haven’t heard of any investigations or holding anyone accountable. The death of 46 people is a terrible tragedy. Therefore, the government must strictly check all this.
— It appears so, that in the old times, the level of responsibility was high and the hard-working people were recognized and respected?
— My father used to say: «There’s nobody in Karaganda who earns better than the miners.» Their salary was high. In Karaganda, only miners drove «Zhigulis» and «Moskvichs» cars. Everyone listened to them starting from the regional committee. Everything was for them. There was even a special place where miners could get quality food. Now none of this exists. It’s a pity that the miners’ salary is 290,000 tenge. Compare the work of a miner to those who earn 500,000 tenge. Didn’t the government, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the population know that miners were getting such a salary?
— Both the president and the prime minister have stated that they will return JSC «ArcelorMittal Temirtau» to state ownership. Even Mittal, who came as an investor back in 1995, did not manage to invest in the mines and modernize them…
— Why didn’t the enterprise that controls technical safety conduct an inspection? Why wasn’t the company’s negligence and irresponsibility exposed?
The first problem is that we can’t control many things. If an investor comes, they will shamelessly be praised. There are many foreign investors developing oil, coal, and non-ferrous metals. They have occupied industrial sites for several years. Maybe for ten, twenty, thirty years. They are only thinking about how to make a profit. Doesn’t the government know this?
In my opinion, the lack of control in Kazakhstan, the absence of protection of natural resources, is only to the benefit of investors. That’s why they continue to do whatever comes into their head.
Secondly, we often say that in 30 years we need to carry out reforms and «change the democratic governance and political views.» First and foremost, the main task of the head of state should become the gradual return of the wealth of the Kazakhs, lost after gaining independence. Because it’s hard to change people’s minds until all this wealth is returned, and the profits from it flow into the pockets of the people. People are not stupid; they know where their riches are going.
Today I found some information. 20,000 hectares of land in the Zhanaarkinsk district of the Ulytau region are being given to a Chinese investor. What do you think, will this news have a significant impact on people? Suspicion is instilled in the hearts of citizens, and they are in confusion. If you become the owner of the wealth of your land and return it to the state, the moral spirit of the people will start to rise. And after this tragic event, «ArcelorMittal Temirtau» needs to be returned to state ownership as soon as possible.
For example, in Norway, the amount of money coming from oil to the national fund amounts to one trillion dollars. Why? First of all, they are well-prepared for independent oil extraction. They are trained. We could have attempted to acquire the most necessary wealth ourselves, not to mention others.
— What has so far prevented the training of strong industry specialists without resorting to foreigners?
— My cousin Mahmud Akbi was the CEO of the Karaganda Metallurgical Combine. A scientist who received the state award of the Kazakh SSR. He scientifically proved that metal obtained from the iron ores of the Kostanai region is not susceptible to melting. From iron, one can obtain more durable products than from steel. At the last meeting, he declared: «Such productions as the Karaganda Metallurgical Combine should not be given to investors. There were specialists who would continue its work, everyone was ready. And we should only deal with the export of state-produced goods abroad,» he said.
For 30 years, the state was supposed to open educational institutions. Then we could have done without Mittal. We did not prepare the necessary specialists.
Have you even heard that such a scientific innovation has been opened at Nazarbayev University? I am surprised that we are striving to hold conferences and international-level meetings in Kazakhstan. It costs a lot of money. What should you be teaching the world? Moreover, it is necessary to travel around the world, to learn from them, and then to apply this knowledge at home.
— As a MP, did you criticize the actions of such giant companies?
— I raised two issues concerning the Karaganda region. First, I said that the Russian military ranges should be stopped, and secondly, the health of the local population had deteriorated sharply due to the protons emitted from Baikonur. I tried my best to resolve these problems.
— Kazakhstanis have started collecting signatures for a petition demanding that Lakshmi Mittal be held criminally responsible.
— There is a prosecutor’s office that is conducting an investigation. Even if illegal actions, such as crimes, are revealed, they must be strictly punished. What about the families and children of the deceased miners? The company must pay compensation.
Yesterday, the media reported that the head of the government and ministers said that «the state will provide assistance.» What’s new about that? In any case, every country should do this.
In general, to change public consciousness, the consciousness of state authorities must change.
— It has become fashionable now to call the former government «Old Kazakhstan» and the current one «New Kazakhstan.» Some representatives of Old Kazakhstan have been punished. But what has changed?
— What can New Kazakhstan do? Can it return all the riches? We need new people who will return everything and realize the New Kazakhstan.
How will the representatives of Old Kazakhstan form the New Kazakhstan? It’s pointless if people with different views don’t come. How can progress be achieved if you don’t change the wheels of the old cart or jump onto a horse that is moving forward? To think about the nation, knowledge is needed, and then honor.
Translated articles may not reflect the editorial position and are published with the aim of increasing our readers’ awareness.
