COMMENT | In a media briefing cloaked in optimism, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad recently declared that non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) mining in the state is environmentally safe, sustainable, and economically promising.

But here’s the rub: Should a politician be the one assuring us of environmental safety in a venture as complex and chemically sensitive as rare earth mining?

What qualifies a menteri besar to speak with such certainty on hydrogeology, groundwater contamination risk, or long-term ecological impact?

Saarani said the state’s NR-REE pilot project in Kenering, Hulu Perak, adheres to strict environmental impact assessments and employs the so-called latest green technology: in-situ leaching (ISL).

Unlike conventional mining, ISL does not involve digging up the earth. Instead, a...