Illegal sand mining persists in Manjung despite several stop-work orders

IPOH – An illegal sand mining operator at Pantai Pasir Panjang, Manjung continued with its activities despite being given warnings by the authorities to stop work at the site.

Perak Land and Mines Department (PTG) director Datuk Mohamad Fariz Mohamad Hanip said work at the site was detected in November last year and the department, with the cooperation of the Manjung Municipal Council, had ordered it to stop operating while waiting for approval.

“No approval or permission has been issued for the land owned by a manufacturing company so far. An application was made but it has to be brought to the committee stage for study and to obtain technical comments,” he said here today.

Fariz said that based on a review of the application, the company wanted to develop the area as it has the potential for silica sand mining.

However, he said the latest situation was under control as a Perak PTG team with the municipal council had inspected the site to ensure sand is not transferred out from the turtle landing site. 

Asked whether cases of sand mining were reported in other parts of Perak, Fariz said no reports had been received so far.

Earlier, Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam posted two pictures on Twitter showing sand excavation in the area, which is a level one environmentally sensitive zone.

Kami mendapat berita satu lagi projek menjahanamkan alam - projek korek pasir yg ada kaitan dgn kerabat raja Perak akan dijalankan di kawasan pendaratan penyu Tg Gemuk, Pantai Pasir Panjang, Manjung, Perak. Kawasan terbabit merupakan zon sensitif alam sekitar tahap 1 pic.twitter.com/9gnjo3VnDF

— Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam - KUASA (@aktivis_alam) January 1, 2022

According to the association, the area is a sensitive environmental site in which no development can be carried out except for limited tourism and research activities as stated in the regulations, National Physical Plan, and Local Plan.

Bernama had earlier reported that the municipal council did not receive any applications, had not given any permission to date, and had in fact ordered to stop the work immediately. – Bernama, January 3, 2022