The Penang Public Accounts Committee who are investigating alleged sand theft in Balik Pulau have found ‘evidence' of the activities during a visit to the site at Kampung Kenanga today.

They discovered five sand craters about the size of football fields.

NONE Mining activities have been allegedly going on for about six months, alleged village representative Mohamad Kaharudin Ihsan Abdul Rahman ( left ).

The issue took centre stage in Penang when Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) lodged a police report two weeks ago, claiming that illegal sand excavation was taking place in a plot of land earmarked for a polytechnic in Kg Kenanga.

Since then the area had been cordoned off by the police and the illegal sand mining seemed to have ceased.

"It was usually carried out around 2-3am, but we do not know who these people are," added Mohamad Kaharudin Ihsan, referring to the 34ha of federal land along Titi Teras, Mukim 7-8.

NONE He was accompanied by PAC chairperson and Dato Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo ( second from right in picture ), who visited the site at about 10am today.

Other PAC members and assemblypersons - Sim Tze Sin (PKR-Pantai Jerejak), Koay Teng Hai (DAP-Ayer Itam) and Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad (BN-Bayan Lepas) also surveyed the area, which was formerly owned by deceased tycoon Loh Boon Siew.

NONE Muhammad Farid, who is a PAC member, withdrew from the committee last week citing conflict of interest as he will be one of the witnesses called during the inquiry into the alleged illegal activities.

The controversial incident blew into a sandstorm when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng joined the fray, and took state development officer Nik Ali Mat Yunos to task for not monitoring federal government land.

They have been at loggerheads, with Lim accusing Nik Ali of being a ‘ Little Napoleon in the civil service' while the latter condemned Lim for being ‘rude' , among other things.

NONE Meanwhile, Jagdeep, a lawyer by profession, said the evidence gathered today will be presented to the state at a PAC meeting on Aug 2 in Komtar.

He urged the cooperation of the district office in Balik Pulau to assist in the investigation. It is learnt that several representatives from the state Lands and Minerals, Works and Legal Departments will be called in as witnesses in the inquiry.

"Other than sand taken, the fencing around the area has been torn down, too. We will also invite the police to be involved to ascertain if there were evidence of criminal activities," he added.

"We could not find anyone here today. Unfortunately, this is not a spot check. We also cannot be sure if the illegal activities are still going on," he added.