The Penang Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tabled its report on sand theft in Balik Pulau at the state assembly today.

The report, which includes evidence of theft and details of a fact-finding mission, will be debated at the next sitting of the state assembly.

PAC chairperson Jag NONE deep Singh Deo said the report contains several recommendations for the relevant departments to act on. If they do not, they can be deemed to be in contempt of the legislature.

“One of our recommendations includes disciplinary action to be taken within three months against the Higher Education Ministry, which currently oversees the land where the theft occurred,” he told reporters at the lobby of the state assembly building.

“This land has been assigned to the ministry by the Land and Mines Department (under the federal government), which is the owner of the land, for the building of a polytechnic (college).

“We view this incident (of theft) very seriously as it involves federal government land and (payment of)  royalty to the state government.”

Jadgeed, who is Dato Keramat assemblyperson, said the committee wants the police to step up their investigation and to bring the culprits to book.

“They must reopen their files. Out of five reports, four have been labelled ‘no further action’,” he noted.

NONE The site, valued at RM3.6 million, is situated in Kampung Kenaga, Balik Pulau, and covers 142,825,926.4 cubic metres.

It is earmarked for a public polytechnic college planned in two phases - the first comprises earthworks completed several years ago, while construction of the building is scheduled to start next year.

The issue of sand theft came into the open when Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhamad Faris Saad lodged a report, following which police seized two excavators from the site.

Four BN representatives and five from Pakatan Rakyat sit on the PAC which took up the matter on Aug 2.

Importance of monitoring sites

Jagdeep also said that treasury department circular 2/1987 to ensure proper monitoring of user- agencies of federal land and royalty to the state government has not been obeyed.

NONE In this case, the Higher Education Ministry has responsibility for protecting the land.

“If they had complied with the circular, the sand theft would have been avoided,” he said.

Jagdeep said the district office was informed about the matter in a letter dated May 30, 2006, but that no action had been taken up to last year.

He urged the monitoring committee of the Land and Mines Department to be proactive in probing reports about sand mining theft.

“The PAC is very concerned because the department owns 1,800 lots of land in Penang. If the circular is not compiled with, then there is a possibility that theft and negative incidents like (occupation by) squatters will occur,” he added.