Minister claims Kedah MB fined RM500k for rare earth theft

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has claimed that Kedah caretaker menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was fined RM500,000 last year over theft of rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik.

Speaking at the launch of the Kedah BN-Harapan election machinery launch last night, Saifuddin openly questioned Sanusi if the latter received a letter dated Oct 4, 2022, stating the fine.

“I would like to ask Sanusi, as the (caretaker) menteri besar, and the Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah) chairperson if there was a letter from a Fauzi Mustaffa, who is the Kedah land and mines office director, at the end of last year.

“The letter requested that the MBI pay a RM500,000 compound for stealing rare earth elements in Kampung Chong, Sik, Kedah,” Saifuddin (above) said during the event held at the Guar Chempedak public field.

He further alleged the fine was under Section 426(1) of the National Land Code 1965 (Act 828) - which imposes a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both, on any person who without lawful authority, extracts, removes or transports, or permits the extraction, removal, or transportation of rock material from any land.

The PKR secretary-general claimed the offence was committed at 2.30pm on Sept 24, 2022.

“This is only the beginning. There will be a series of exposés with complete documents because we believe the wisdom of Kedahans should never be underestimated.

“With that, we hope to win at least 19 seats in the polls to secure a simple majority and form the new state government,” Saifuddin said.

Also at the event was Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who said arrests have begun over the issue. However, he did not elaborate on the individuals involved.

“We are confident in the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The rakyat want the truth,” he said.

Malaysiakini has contacted Sanusi for a response to the claims.

Kampung Chong is located along the perimeter of Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve where Sanusi previously dismissed REE theft in the area.

Sanusi said there was no connection between such activity to 52 suspects arrested at the forest reserve in February this year.

The month prior, Sanusi denied accusations that he reaped RM1 billion from rare earth mining in the state, adding that MBI had nothing to do with the illegal mining.

19 seat target

Saifuddin said Harapan and BN’s target of winning 19 out of 36 state seats in Kedah was an achievable one.

He also revealed the Harapan coalition intended to help BN grab the Pedu and Pantai Merdeka seats previously won by PAS.

Pedu was won by PAS for the first time in the 2018 state election with a 670-vote majority for Mohd Radzi Md Amin.

Pantai Merdeka on the other hand has been a swing seat between PAS and BN over the course of several elections, but was won in 2018 by Ahmad Fadzli Hashim with a 4,566-vote majority.

Saifuddin said Amanah will field a candidate in Kubang Rotan, which is a former PKR seat, as well as Pengkalan Kundor.

He added that Harapan hoped to retain Kulim, Lunas, Bukit Selambau, Sidam, and Bakar Arang which were previously won by PKR.

DAP will field candidates in Derga and Kota Darul Aman, he added.

BN-Harapan will obtain a simple majority of 19 seats if they achieve a 14 percent swing from PN voters. According to election data from GE15, PN only won 56 percent of the popular vote.

If none of PN’s supporters swings towards BN-Harapan, it will likely hold seven seats.

PN previously won 21 out of the 36 seats. Two were won by Pejuang while the Gurun seat was vacant before the assembly’s dissolution.

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