Selangor government-owned mining company Kuala Semesta Sdn Bhd’s executive director today revealed that 46 illegal sand mines are operating in Selangor, which in 2009 produced an estimated six million tonnes of sand.

NONE This far eclipses KSSB’s production of just 30 percent of that, at 1.7 million tonnes, which earned the company RM31 million that year, Ramli Majed ( right ) added.

Ramli, who testified at the Selangor Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) probe into the company today, said the illegal mines are scattered across 23 locations in the state.

To a question from Selcat panelist and Hulu Kelang state assemblyperson Azmin Ali, Ramli said KSSB does not have any jurisdiction to stop the miners, but has reported the cases to the Land and Mines Department and the police.

He said his company staff are constantly menaced by the illegal miners who have threatened their safety, but police have thus far been dragging their feet.

"One of our security managers had petrol splashed on him. This is a very serious offence, but the person who did this has not been charged," he said, providing an example of the lack of seriousness of the police force.

To date, the company has lodged 40 police reports and has only received one progress report from the police in Kuala Selangor. No charge has been filed so far.  

"The police have been very slow to act. When we lodge a complaint, they are so slow that by the time they arrive, the illegal miners have taken off," he told the panel in his testimony which took over an hour.

'Selangor will just be one big hole'

            

Ramli also told the panel that he could not explain how the projected state government earnings of RM127 million was arrived at in June 2008.

"I joined the company in August 2008, and I have no idea how this 'magic number' came about," he said.

He added that before he joined, the company's activities were spearheaded by its adviser and founder Anuar Mohd Nor, whose service was terminated last month.

Ramli testified that it would be almost impossible for KSSB to meet this projection as it would mean mining at an unsustainable rate.

"It's difficult for me to answer. To pay RM127 million in royalty, the company has to mine 66 million tonnes of sand a year or 5.5 million tonnes a month.

"If we go at this rate, at the end of the day, Selangor will just be just one big hole.

hindraf to palace 250408 s manickavasagam "In Selangor, the forecast demand for sand is about 17 million tonnes, and for this amount the royalty payments would come up to RM31 million, assuming that all the sand is sourced legally," he said.

He added that KSSB only has the capacity to meet 43 percent of the 16.3 million tonnes projected demand this year.

Ramli will continue with his testimony tomorrow, the last day of the hearing, followed by the complainant, Kapar MP S. Manickavasagam ( above ).