ALOR SETAR – The incidents of theft or illegal mining of rare earth elements (REE) at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik that were detected recently do not involve the government or companies granted licences to conduct exploration work to research minerals in the area.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said Prospek Suria Sdn Bhd, the company which is working with Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah) on the project, has not started any work because it is still waiting for the standard operating procedure (SOP) from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA).
“The company that obtained the licence to conduct exploration works and the JV (joint venture) with MBI is not the one involved as it is still awaiting the SOP from KeTSA. When the company found out about the theft (REE), it immediately contacted the state government to say it was not involved.
“I was informed that the theft site is outside the area given to the company in the JV with MBI. Some people say there is an MBI sign at the entrance of that area (but) MBI is not involved,” he said after officiating at the closing of the Program Jelajah Kedah Sejahtera Daerah Kota Setar here today.
During a question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, KeTSA Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan reportedly said that operations to bust the activities of syndicates carrying out illegal REE mining in Sik had saved the country from possible losses of billions of ringgit.
Muhammad Sanusi also said he believes that the incidents of theft did not involve government agencies, adding that the matter happened outside the knowledge of the authorities considering that there are several projects involving MBI going on in the forest reserve in question.
He hoped that relevant agencies including the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Kedah Land and Mines Director’s Office as well as the Kedah Forestry Department would carry out an investigation to identify the culprits and take appropriate action. – Bernama
