ALOR STAR – The Kedah government today denied allegations that discovery works for rare-earth elements are an excuse to engage in logging activities in the state.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that in areas where the mineral is found, there are no more trees to be logged.
“All areas in Kedah that have logs have been approved (for logging) during the previous (Pakatan Harapan) goverment. In the Ulu Muda area alone, there are 22,000ha of land in the process of obtaining licences for logging, so there is no area and place for me to approve anymore," he told a press conference here today.
Meanwhile, Sanusi said mineral extraction works will use a new technology, unlike in gold-, tin- and bauxite-mining activities.
On Wednesday, he had said a Kuala Lumpur-based company was awarded an approval permit to explore and extract mineral deposits estimated at RM60 billion in the state.
Earlier, Sanusi launched the state-level Kembara Prihatin Negara 2020 programme at Wisma Darul Aman, which was also attended by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof. – Bernama, December 6, 2020
