KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 7 — The Terengganu Land and Mines Office (PTG) has issued compounds worth a total of RM45,000 throughout the year for various offences related to bauxite mining in Kemaman, said Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
According to statistics released by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), there were 223 offences relating to lorries carrying bauxite in Kemaman from January to November.
“Of the total, 67 compounds had been issued, two cases were taken to court, 111 cases are being reviewed by law officials, five have had their transactions suspended, and one case where the operator’s licence has been suspended and revoked.
“Apart from that, 20 cases are still in the final invetigation review stage, 13 cases are being checked by the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP), three have had warning letters issued, and one case in which no further action has been taken,” he said in a statement here today.
The compounds had been issued following the establishment of a special committee by state government to address the problems affecting public interest and the local population in the area.
Ahmad Razif said the state government did not take a hands-off approach in this matter, and several integrated operations involving the cooperation of the Road Transport Department, SPAD, Department of Environment, Kemaman Municipal Council, PTG, and the Kemaman District Office had in fact been carried out.
“Even before this, the state government had directed PTG officers to perform 24-hour patrols in the area after it was found that there were illegal mining activities being carried out in the area, and the unscrupulous parties who encroached and carried out the bauxite mining had been identified,” he said.
Last week, Air Putih assemblyman Wan Abdul Hakim Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar had voiced his concern about activities which troubled the local residents in the constituency.
Wan Abdul Hakim also urged the state government to cooperate with the Pahang state government to act decisively and deal with the matter as soon as possible, to help resolve the problems.
Ahmad Razif said the state government was always working to overcome the problem of bauxite lorries heading from Pahang to the Kemaman Port, as it involved public routes.
“Although the state government has the final say on matters relating to land and mines, there are also certain things that are under the jurisdiction of the federal government,” he said.
He also reiterated that the state government would not approve any requests for bauxite mining in the state. — Bernama
