Gerakan Anti Sanusi (GAS) submits memorandum on REE

ALOR SETAR - A group of Tik Tok users who call themselves as Gerakan Anti Sanusi (GAS) have submitted a memorandum related to Rare Earth Elements (REE) to Kedah Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on Thursday.

The memorandum was given to Muhammad Sanusi through Kedah Chief Minister's Special Officer Ku Abdul Muhyi Ku Abd Hamid in front of Wisma Darul Aman, here, at about 9.45am.

GAS representative Ahmad Kamaruddin, 47, said that his party submitted the memorandum in order to convey the people's voice, especially Tik Tok users, about the mineral.

"We, on behalf of the people in Kedah, request for the Kedah MB's wisdom to immediately form an efficient investigative body to unravel the real value and the masterminds behind the REE theft.

"We also urge the Kedah government to give an immediate decision about the real status of the REE issue," he told reporters when met in front of a guest house yesterday (Wednesday).

Also present were Pertubuhan Pemacu Pelancongan Sik (Pedas) chairman Abdul Rahim Husain.

Ahmad said the matter is important as it involves Kedah's mineral deposits which should be given serious attention, as it was considered as the state's heritage assets that could contribute to a new source of income for the state.

"We expect an immediate response from Kedah MB, as the head of the state government, he should take immediate action to ensure Kedah's rich minerals will continue to be preserved," he said.

In the meantime, Ahmad said his party hoped that Muhammad Sanusi can give a response about the REE issues as previously mentioned by GAS.

"Among the questions we had was which company was authorised to explore REE in the forest reserve at Bukit Enggang, Sik, either Prospek Suria Sdn Bhd or Prospek Suria (Kedah) Sdn Bhd.

"In addition, we were curious about which party had paid the RM130,000 compound issued by Kedah State Forestry Department and the RM500,000 issued by Kedah State Lands and Mines Department against the individuals involved.

"We would like to know about the time period given to mine the minerals and the results Kedah obtained from the mining activities," he said.

He also asked MB to clarify whether the individuals arrested by the Kedah State Forestry Department (JPNK) were employees of the companies given permission to conduct the mining activities.

"Among other things, we also have questions if the mining work had continued and the true value of losses due to the REE theft," he said.