Malaysia's bauxite industry headed from boom to bust

Kuala Lumpur

ALREADY under fire for widespread environmental damage, Malaysia's once lucrative bauxite mining industry is facing a likely death knell from neighbouring Indonesia's move to allow a resumption of exports.

This time last year, Malaysia was the world's biggest supplier of the aluminium-making raw material to top buyer China, but its exports tumbled after government action aimed at reining in the little regulated industry.