MACC probes unnamed "MB" over rare earth projects

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is probing claims of alleged irregularities and power abuse in a rare earth mining (REE) project involving a Menteri Besar.

According to a source, the mining activity was believed to have been carried out illegally, thus causing losses to the state government.

The source added that the issue of illegal mining and loss of land had been raised by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) before, including the Anti-Sanusi Movement in March.

"It is understood from the residents of Bukit Enggang Sik, Kedah, that the illegal mining work was carried out on a large scale before it was halted by authorities," a source said on Tuesday.

"In January, Kedah Umno had also urged the MACC to investigate and reveal the results of the probe to see if there was any political interference in the issue of REE theft, which had caused significant losses to the country,” the source added.

The report came after a letter mentioning the application to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a quota on foreign workers went viral.

"It was supposedly for a joint venture project between the state government with a local company and a company from China," he said.

The source added that it was understood that the Kedah MACC had opened an investigation paper on the illegal mining issue of REE earlier this year.

The source said that the state graft busters had called several witnesses in, but it is not known how far the investigation was carried out.

Meanwhile, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed that several investigation papers had been opened under Section 17 (a) and Section 23 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

He said it includes the investigation paper opened by MACC Kedah in March 2023.

However, he declined to comment further when asked if the MACC would call the unnamed Mentri Besar soon.