SUNGAI PETANI - Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution has acknowledged receiving a legal notice from the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, regarding the issue of rare earth elements (REE) and is prepared to address the matter in court.
As the Secretary-General of the National Unity Secretariat, Saifuddin reiterated his previous statement that the REE was stolen from a compartment belonging to the Kedah Menteri Besar Corporation (MBI) in Hutan Simpan Bukit Enggang, Sik.
"Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has sent me a letter of summons. There is no problem; I will engage my lawyer to defend the case. Let's resolve this matter in court. I stand by my statement that REE was stolen, full stop," he said at Kedah Unity Manifesto launch at Dataran Laguna Merbok, near here yesterday.
Saifuddin raised concerns about the actions of the Kedah Land and Mines Office Director (PTG), Datuk Md Shuhaime Abd Rahman, who allegedly failed to conduct an investigation into the 360 sacks of REE.
"I want to question the Kedah PTG director, when the first lorry was detained with 185 sacks, did you issue a compound to MBI?
"Why has there been no investigation into the theft of the 360 sacks, despite receiving a letter about the incident?
"The investigation papers have yet to be processed under Kedah State Mineral Enactment.
"Kedah PTG office should be the one investigating. It has been seven months since the incident involving 360 sacks of REE occurred on January 31, and still, there has been no investigation.
"Whom do you intend to protect, Director of PTG Kedah?
"The evidence of 360 sacks is still in the possession of the Forest Department. I can bring it.
"The question is why no investigation was conducted," Saifuddin reiterated.
On July 16, Md Shuhaime clarified that the RM500,000 compound imposed on MBI for its association with the theft of REE last year was issued in accordance with the law and was not specifically targeted at Sanusi as the Menteri Besar.
Md Shuhaime explained that the prosecution under Section 426 was undertaken after receiving the authority to issue a compound from the Kedah Chief Prosecutor.
He clarified that he did not include Sanusi's name in the compound.