Sanusi well aware of rare earth theft but destroyed evidence - Saifuddin

03 Aug 2023 11:49am

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reveals that caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had in fact, personally visited the illegal rare-earths mine at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve. - Photo by ZAIDI AZMI

JITRA - Not only did the Kedah government was well aware of the rare earth elements (REE) theft happening in the state since February, it had also allegedly destroyed all evidence of the said thievery at the crime scene.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had in fact, personally visited the illegal rare earth mine at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.

“He initially claimed to have no knowledge about the theft but actually on Feb 19, Sanusi had personally been there, at the location.

“But there were no serious actions taken by him and his administration afterwards. Not only that, he even continues to deny of having knowledge about the matter,” said Saifuddin at a press conference at a Pakatan Harapan command centre, here, today.

Saifuddin also pointed out that the evidence at the crime scene were all destroyed; alluding of an attempted coverup by the Sanusi-led aministration.

“The area was not cordoned as a crime scene. The evidence were all demolished. The labs and all, everthing were demolished instead of being preserved.

“So, Sanusi has a lot to answer. He had already been to the site,” Saifuddin demanded.

Saifuddin also revealed that the Director of the State Land and Mines Office was also involved in the controversy in which the person is a member of the state’s mineral committee.

“The very committee responsible for investigating the rare earth theft under the Kedah Minerals Enactment.

“But oddly enough, despite the seriousness of this issue, no investigation papers were opened to curtail the continous illegal mining and minerals theft at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve,” Saifuddin lamented.

As state elections loomed closer, the rare earth theft has been a staple bullet weilded by Pakatan Harapan in its bid to best Perikatan Nasional which has a considerable incumbent advantage in Kedah.

Due this Aug 12, a total of 1,585,085 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in an electoral contest involving 83 candidates vying for Kedah’s 36 state seats.