ALOR STAR: The Kedah government must take responsibility and provide an explanation over allegations that illegal mining of rare earth elements (REE) has been going on for two years at the Bukit Enggang forest reserve.
State Barisan Nasional communications director Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin urged Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor to provide an explanation on the matter and call for an immediate halt to all illegal mining in Kedah.
He demanded that Sanusi clarify whether the state government was complicit in the alleged mining and whether it held shares in the mining company behind the illegal operations.
"First, explain whether the theft was done by the same company that was granted a licence to explore REE minerals by the Pas-led state government in the past two years.
"Second, is the state government involved in or does it hold shares in the company behind the REE exploration?
"According to reports from residents, they found a sign at the site's entrance bearing the logo of Menteri Besar Kedah Inc (MBI), which is owned by the state government," he said today.
Shaiful urged the state government to shut down the mining and the company's operations to allow for detailed investigations into the matter.
He said the alleged illegal mining was a crime and an act of treason against the people in the state and the country.
He said the theft of 185 sacks of REE from a site in Bukit Enggang was just the tip of the iceberg of the crime.
"It was not just 185 sacks that were stolen. Lorries have been spotted transporting minerals out for two years," he claimed, calling for stern action against the company or individuals involved.
Kedah Parti Amanah Negara chairman Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi said Pakatan Harapan viewed the matter seriously.
"Amanah and Kedah PH view the issue seriously. We demand that the relevant agencies carry out an investigation immediately."
He said the theft of resources not only caused the state government to lose revenue, but it also posed risks to the environment and the people due to possible exposure to radioactive materials from REE.
Yesterday, a local daily reported that Sanusi confirmed that recent raids by government agencies at an exploration site in Bukit Enggang led to the seizure of 185 bags of illegally extracted minerals.
He said whether the confiscated minerals were REE or other minerals were yet to be determined, pending comprehensive studies and investigations.
He reportedly confirmed that only one company was granted a licence to carry out exploration works for REE minerals in Gunung Enggang.
