SIK: The government should form a committee under the National Security Council (NSC) to investigate rare earth minerals theft in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Kedah.
Former Umno Jeneri assemblyman Mahadzir Abdul Hamid said NSC should spearhead the investigations as other agencies might have limited powers.
Mahadzir, who is also the Yayasan Jariah Malaysia chairman, said the rare earth minerals theft at Compartments 12, 13 and 14 should be done transparently without hiding any elements of mismanagement, swindling, corruption or power abuse.
"It has been a year since I lodged a report over the issue, but it seems no action has been taken to arrest the mastermind behind the rare earth minerals theft.
"The 50 people arrested and charged in court are just small fry. They were just workers, not the big 'towkay' or 'sharks'. Why are the authorities taking too long to solve the case?" he said at a press conference in Kampung Tala today.
Mahadzir believed a cartel was behind the theft, claiming that the state government had suffered losses of over RM1 billion instead of hundreds of millions of ringgit.
"I am worried that people would think that just anyone could come and steal the rare earth minerals since no stern action is being taken. It's as if the state government is not serious in handling this issue.
"I am not raising this issue because of the upcoming state election, but I am baffled why there is no seriousness on the state government's part and even sometimes treating this matter as a joke.
"During our time as the elected representatives, we will demand stern action by the authorities. We don't want this matter to escalate into creating bad perceptions," he said.
Mahadzir said he was concerned that the theft would continue and the minerals would be smuggled out of the country.
"We fear that once the minerals are being looted, there is nothing left for the companies that have been granted the mining license to mine.
"However, the state government should not allow the rare earth minerals mining to start as it requires in-depth studies to ensure that people will not suffer from the long-term impacts of pollution from heavy metals being produced from the rare earth minerals extraction," he said.
Mahadzir did not rule out the possibility of rare earth minerals theft taking place at other forest reserves, as the mineral were highly sought after.
"China and the US are competing with each other to get the minerals. It could fetch up to millions of ringgit per kilogramme because of the race among nuclear-power nations."
Last February, 52 foreigners were arrested for illegaly mining in the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
In April, 40 people were charged at the Baling Sessions Court for trespassing.
Caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said there were no rare earth mining at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
Instead, he said, Prospek Suria Sdn Bhd, which had the permit to explore and study the rare earth resources, was in the midst of preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment report.
He added that the state government would only carry out mining in accordance with the law and the standard operating procedures of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change.
