Minerals and land resources are still the state’s prerogative - Saifuddin counters Sanusi’s accusation
Kedah Caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md. Nor (right) has been at loggerheads with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution (left) - FILE PIX
The clarification was made by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution at a press conference, here today, following an allegation by Kedah Caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md. Nor last night.
“When it comes to governance, the Federal and State governments each have their respective schedules.
“Whatever that’s underneath the land, belongs to the state. So, for now that still stands,” said Saifuddin at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) command centre here.
Sanusi — who is defending his Jeneri state seat in the coming August 12 Kedah polls — had last night alleged that Putrajaya is formulating a plan to gain control of matters concerning minerals and land resources.
He claimed that this was the sole reason as to why PH has been harping on the rare-earths theft at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve with much intensity.
However, to be fair to Sanusi — added Saifuddin — he did request the Ministry of Natural Resources, in 2020, to furnish the guidelines for rare-earths extraction.
“But the minister back then was from Pas. The minister back then was his friend. For 33 months, they did not come up with the guidelines.
“The unity government took over Putrajaya in November last year. In January, Sanusi scolded the government for not coming up with the guidelines...we were in office for only a month,” Saifuddin reasoned.
Rare-earths have been the main issue used by PH against Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) in its election campaigns for the coming Kedah elections, specifically over minerals’ theft in Kedah under Sanusi’s administration.
