Sand mining proves slippery slope for Pakatan

The Khalid administration’s failure to handle the sand-mining issue is proving detrimental to Pakatan as a whole. — file pic

Umno’s relentless attacks over illegal sand mining is turning the issue into an Achilles’ heel for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s administration, and with every passing day the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is losing the public’s confidence.

“Everywhere I go, people want to know what’s going on and they have the impression that the state is involved in illegal sand mining,” said Charles Santiago from DAP.

The Klang MP said the state government needed to do more to counter Umno’s onslaught.

Umno leaders in Selangor have, in recent weeks, been using newspapers and television stations controlled by the party to highlight what they claim was rampant illegal mining of sand in the state.

The state and its sand-mining subsidiary, Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), have been on the defensive over the issue despite many of the allegations being unfounded.

Khir brought the media to view an illegal sand-mining spot that turned out to be legal. — file pic

On July 11, state Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo led reporters to a sand-mining site in Kampung Bukit Changgang, Dengkil, which he claimed was illegal and affecting the Paya Indah Wetlands nature reserve.

Not to be outdone, Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar then used a helicopter to get an aerial view of sand mines in Dengkil and other alleged illegal sites in Selangor.

However, it was subsequently shown that the Dengkil mining operation was legal and an environmental impact assessment had been carried out.

But the snail’s pace at which KSSB and state officials moved to refute the allegations has provided space and time for Umno to go on a media offensive against the Selangor mentri besar and PR.

The issue dominated debates in the state legislative assembly last week, with Umno assemblymen repeatedly raising allegations of rampant illegal sand mining in Selangor.

Kuang assemblyman Abdul Shukor Idrus was thrown out of the House for creating a ruckus because his motion to debate the issue was rejected.

The Selangor Umno information chief’s ensuing claims that he was ejected because the state had something to hide made further headlines.

DAP’s Tony Pua said it was high time for the state government to step up its response and go on the offensive.

Muhyiddin claimed Selangor should “just arrest” those involved. — file pic

“Even unfounded allegations by Umno leaders are being played up in the press and it’s damaging our credibility,” said the PJ Utara MP.

He cited Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claims that the Selangor government should “just arrest and take action” against those involved in illegal sand mining, as an example.

Pua said the statement by the deputy prime minister was absurd because the powers to arrest and prosecute lay with the police and federal government.

“The state is being unfairly blamed for something beyond its jurisdiction,” he said.

However, Khalid Samad believes Umno’s tactics will eventually backfire.

“Sooner or later their media blitz is going to run out of steam and the public is going to know the truth,” said the PAS Shah Alam MP.

He also believed Umno was unwittingly creating public awareness about rampant illegal sand mining, which was happening throughout the country.

“As it is, people don’t necessarily believe what they read in the press and they will soon realise that PR is tackling the issue better than Barisan Nasional,” he claimed.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider