KUANTAN – Claims that a 660ha area in the Hulu Jelai forest reserve in Lipis will be degazetted for lanthanide rare earth mining are untrue, said Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, adding that there are currently no national standard operating procedures for such activities.
He said rare earth mining SOPs are still at the draft stage, based on information from the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry to the National Mineral Council on February 16.
“The truth is, the application to mine rare earth in the area has not even been registered as a mining lease, so the question of degazettement has not come up. Besides a mining lease, there are other conditions that need to be met.
“Those involved must obtain environmental impact assessment approval from the Environment Department, and an operational mining scheme certificate from the Mineral and Geoscience Department.”
He said this when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address by Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
On Lee Chin Chen’s (Bilut-DAP) proposal that a special fund be set up to assist in coronavirus victims’ funeral arrangements, Wan Rosdy said the state Covid-19 Funeral Management Fund has been established to collect donations from the public and companies.
Victims’ next of kin, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, can submit claims of up to RM2,000 directly to the District and Land Office, he said, adding that guidelines for the implementation of the initiative are still being prepared.
He said Pahang is on track to attain herd immunity before the monsoon period should the 1.3 million vaccine doses scheduled for delivery in stages in August, September and October arrive as planned.
“The state government is also trying to determine the exact number of residents above the age of 18, including non-citizens and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cardholders.
“Based on this information, the state government will consider submitting a request for additional vaccines if needed.”
The assembly adjourned sine die. – Bernama, August 25, 2021
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