All of Pahang's bauxite stockpile - more than 10 million tonnes of it - will be impounded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to facilitate a probe into illegal mining of the aluminium raw material.

MACC Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Azam Baki said that this will mean that all bauxite in the state - including those stored on government land - cannot be moved from where it is being stored for any purposes whatsoever.

"Anyone who defies this seizure notice will have committed an offence under Section 69 of the MACC Act 2009," Azam said in a statement today.

Section 69 provides a general penalty for persons convicted under the Act of a fine up to RM10,000, or two years’ imprisonment, or both.

Azam said the MACC has proposed that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry cancel all existing approved permits for bauxite miners, and re-study the issuance of further permits.

The MACC will be monitoring the Kuantan Port for bauxite exports, he added.