ALOR SETAR - Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution alleges that another theft of rare earth elements (REE) has been detected in Kampung Bendang Man in Sik.
According to him, the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is also the Kedah State Corporation (MBI) Chairman, should provide an explanation regarding this matter.
Saifuddin said that an explanation is needed as to why the Chief Executive Officer of MBI Kedah, Muhamad Sobri Osman, issued a letter to a company to enter their land in Kampung Bendang Man for the purpose of exploration.
"This latest incident occurred outside compartment 12 of the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve, namely in Kampung Bendang Man, Ladang MBI Kedah, Felcra Bhd. I was made to understand that, under the pretext of exploration, nearly five gunny sacks of REE have been extracted from the area.
"The police have taken action and arrests have been made, along with the seizure of five gunny sacks of REE. The number of individuals detained so far, you need to ask the police," he said at a press conference at the PKR State Office in Kedah near here today.
Saifuddin, who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general, stated that the purpose and authorization for entry into MBI Kedah's land under the guise of an exploration license need to be clarified.
"The exploration license was issued, but who in the company consists of professional geologists? Who endorsed it and what is the need to extract up to five gunny sacks of REE from the area?
"How many samples are they planning to take and how many more authorization letters will MBI Kedah issue for sample extraction licenses? Sanusi needs to address these matters with the CEO of MBI," he added.