GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has urged Putrajaya to intervene in a plan announced by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor that will allow for large-scale rare earth elements (REE) exploration in Kedah.
“We disagree and urge for due consideration and intervention from the federal government, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the National Security Council, to ensure that these dangerous efforts are stopped immediately to ensure the safety of the water supply to the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) states, namely Perlis, Kedah and Penang,” Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a statement here today.
Chow said that the large-scale exploration, covering 163,000 hectares, would inevitably involve large-scale land clearing that would cause great destruction to the rainforest.
According to him, mining activities will also adversely affect Sungai Muda, which is a strategic source of raw water.
Chow highlighted the role played by the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, which is the largest and most important water catchment area in the NCER.
“About 70% of Perlis’ raw water and 96% of Kedah’s raw water come from Ulu Muda, while more than 80% of the raw water extracted by the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) from Sungai Muda, at the water inlet in Lahar Tiang, Penang, comes from Ulu Muda,” he said.
Sanusi announced last week that a Kuala Lumpur-based local company has been given approval to explore and extract REE in Ulu Muda, Silk, and Baling. Sanusi said Kedah had mineral deposits estimated to be worth RM62 billion throughout the state.
However, the announcement has received objections from various parties including the Penang Consumers Association (CAP) and PBAPP, saying the exploration would not only have a negative impact on the environment, but it would also threaten the safety of water supply in Perlis, Kedah, and Penang. – Bernama, December 9, 2020
