KEMAMAN: Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate local authority enforcement officers permitting bauxite mining to continue.
The Terengganu Menteri Besar was terribly upset when he discovered temporary bauxite deposit sites on vacant state land, during an unscheduled spot check at Felda Neram 1.
Following a tip off from local residents, Razif paid a surprise visit to the site along with senior officers from his state administration.
“I cannot believe it. Despite the strict orders for our enforcement officers to carry out a 24-hour surveillance to curb bauxite mining activities, we can still find the activities very much alive.
“How can this happen?” he asked.
Razif called on the MACC to immediately investigate rogue enforcement officers who failed to adhere to strict instructions to nab those who allowed lorries to ferry the bauxite that was mined illegally.
“I will not compromise on this matter with any of my officers or enforcement personnel who do not have the integrity to carry out their duties and in fact are working hand-in-glove with the culprits.
“I call on the MACC to nab these errant officers who apparently are on the take,” he said.
The agencies involved in checking the bauxite mining are the Land and Minerals Department, the police, Road Transport Department and the Land Transport Commission along with the district councils.
Ahmad Razif added that he had directed the state legal adviser to check on Konsortium Perkapalan Kemaman Sdn Bhd, owned by Terengganu Incorporated, to stop any shipment of bauxite out of Terengganu.
“If possible, we want to put a stop to any export of bauxite by tomorrow, as this activity has inconvenienced many local residents,” he said.
Razif advised the state’s land and minerals office to dispatch a protest note to its Pahang counterpart to stop permitting the bauxite miners from transporting the substance through Felda Neram from Bukit Goh in Pahang.
It is learnt that there are 9,935 acres of bauxite deposits in Neram, Jabor and Perasing on privte and state land in Terengganu.
He said that following several meetings held with the agencies concerned a few months ago, it had been agreed that no more bauxite mining or transportation of the substance will happen in Terengganu.
“The federal government has also issued a three-month suspension order to bauxite miners in Pahang to stop their activities to enable a study to be carried out,” he said.
It is learnt that Razif will travel to Putrajaya tomorrow (Monday) to bring up the matter on the latest development.
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