PENDANG: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has asked Kedah Forestry Department and the Malaysian Mineral and Geoscience Department to reveal findings over the rare earth minerals theft in Sik early this year.
He said both agencies had opened investigation papers over the arrest of 52 individuals, including foreigners for trespassing into Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik district six months ago.
"The first arrest (of rare earth minerals illegal mining) has led to the opening of IP (investigation papers) by the Forestry Department and the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG).
"It would be good if we know the status of the investigations, including probes into the minerals containing rare earth elements seized during the raid," he told reporters inspecting the progress work of Jenun Baru Water Treatment Plant (WTA) upgrading works here today in his capacity as the chairman of Kedah Development Action Council.
It was reported earlier that on April 13, 40 people, including five Malaysians were charged at the Baling Sessions Court with trespassing into Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik district in January.
The foreign labourers comprised 31 Myanmar, two Nepalese and two Chinese nationals.
The charge was framed under subsection 47(1) of the National Forestry Act 1984 [Act 313] adopted by the state of Kedah under the National Forestry Enactment 1985, which is punishable under subsection 47 (4) of the same enactment.
All of the accused were detained in an operation by the state Forestry Department between 9pm on Jan 31, and 3am on Feb 1, 2023 for trespassing into Compartment 12 of the Bukit Enggang forest reserve.
Last month, Kedah police had rounded up nine suspects including four Myanmar nationals in connection with human trafficking and illegal mining of rare earth minerals in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in January.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh was reported as saying that four of the suspects were responsible for smuggling foreign nationals as workers in the illegal mining activities.
Police had also seized four and a half sacks containing suspected rare earth minerals weighing about 99kg and a number of equipment suspected to have been used in mining rare earth minerals manually.
It was also reported that four of the suspects were subsequently charged at the Baling Sessions Court with 18 separate charges under Section 12, 14, and 26B(a) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (Atipsom) Act 2007Atipsom Act and Section 55E of the Immigration Act.
Police are looking for a local man identified as Wong Kah Wong, 46, believed to be the mastermind behind the foreign nationals trafficking and illegal mining of rare earth minerals in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
