Kedah MB denies fined over rare earth theft, to sue home minister

Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has denied being issued an RM500,000 fine over rare earth theft in Sik.

He also plans to take legal action against Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who made the allegations.

At a press conference today, Sanusi claimed that the fine was not issued to himself or the state's Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) but to a third party.

"The land (in Kampung Chong, Sik) belongs to the State Forestry Department, so when MBI wanted to use the land, it applied for a permit from the department.

"MBI then entered a joint venture with a company to develop the forest farming project, and the company was not the one slapped with the compound.

"The one that was slapped with the compound was a third party, which trespassed into the site and stole the rare earth minerals," he was quoted as saying by NST.

He added that the person slapped with the compound was a man from Kuala Krai, Kelantan.

He was reported to have shown the media supporting documents related to the case.

Saifuddin made the allegations against Sanusi at the Kedah BN-Pakatan Harapan election machinery launch on Saturday night.

Sanusi - also PN election director - lamented the claims as being mean-spirited.

"I have never received any notice of compound (as claimed by Saifuddin).

“He said I was sued, it (the allegations) was not meant for campaigning but to showcase his mean intention," he said.

Meanwhile, the caretaker Kedah menteri besar told the media that he had also ordered his officers to lodge a police report against Saifuddin.

He will also be taking legal action against the PKR secretary-general.

"I don't care whether he is a minister or not, I will take a suit (against Saifuddin). It was clear cut that he had accused me of being a thief," he said.

Responding to Sanusi, Saifuddin said he stood by his allegations.

He then launched new allegations about the purported involvement of undocumented migrant workers.

"In Kedah, no company is being granted rare earth mineral mining or export, but how could the minerals end up in Port Klang?

"Then, there are also questions about how foreign workers who were granted professional visas endorsed by MBI were arrested for trespassing into forest reserves.

"Some of them entered this country on social visit passes and ended up being caught by the law enforcement agency. Did they have any link to him (Sanusi)?" the minister asked.

He then claimed that he had incriminating photos of those arrested meeting with Sanusi.

"I have photos of those who have been arrested, where and when they were photographed with Sanusi. I have all the information.

"He needs to explain everything, not just simply claiming that MBI was not involved. I have a good collection of photos, but I am not revealing them now," he said.

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