Hulu Jelai forest reserve degazettement claim false - Pahang MB

 

Allegations that a 660-hectare area in the Hulu Jelai forest reserve in Lipis would be degazetted for Lanthanide rare earth mining are untrue, and there is currently no national standard operating procedure (SOP) for such mining activities, said Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

He said rare earth mining SOPs are still at drafting stage based on information from the Natural Resource and Energy Ministry to the National Mineral Council on Feb 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 an environmental impact assessment approval from the Department of Environment and an Operational Mining Scheme certificate from the Department of Mineral and Geoscience,” he said.

Wan Rosdy (above) touched on the matter when winding up 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 at the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang, Kuantan today.

On Lee Chin Chen’s (DAP-Bilut) proposal that a special fund be created to assist the funeral arrangement for Covid-19 victims, Wan Rosdy said the State Covid-19 Funeral Management Fund had been established to collect donations from the public or companies.

The victims’ next of kin, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, can submit claims of up to RM2,000 directly to the District and Land Office, he said, adding that the guidelines for the implementation of the initiative were still at preparation stage.

Regarding the vaccination programme in Pahang, Wan Rosdy said the state was on track to achieving herd immunity before the monsoon period, if the 1.3 million vaccine doses scheduled to be received in stages in August, September and October goes as planned.

"Also, the state government is currently trying to identify the exact total of residents above the age of 18, including foreigners and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.

"Based on the information, the state government will consider submitting a request for additional vaccines if needed,” he added.

The assembly adjourned sine die.

- Bernama