Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has given his assurance that his ministry will look into alleged illegal sand mining activities occurring at Pantai Pasir Panjang in Segari, near Manjung in Perak.
Nik Nazmi said this in a brief tweet yesterday in his reply to the activist group Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), which claimed that sand mining activities were carried out without a permit at the turtle landing site situated at the river mouth of Sungai Puyu.
“We will check this issue right away. Thank you for the information @nreccmalaysia,” Nik Nazmi (above) tweeted.
Kuasa had also said that villagers and activists were being “attacked by a group of gangsters” hired by a company that is carrying out allegedly illegal sand dredging activities at the beach.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that a scuffle erupted at the site when villagers and environmental activists, who held a presser on the alleged illegal sand mining, were hindered from leaving.
The fracas occurred about noon yesterday, when representatives from Maegma Minerals Sdn Bhd, which owns the land in question, prevented a group of some 20 people from leaving the turtle landing site.
Pantai Remis assemblyperson Wong May Ing and activists from Kuasa as well as Persatuan Penggiat Alam Segari were among those prevented from leaving.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia research field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman told Malaysiakini that Maegma Minerals representatives claimed that the participants trespassed the area.
“Some of us, including Wong, travelled to the location via the sea, while the rest of the concerned villagers travelled there by land.
“We held the presser on site to urge local authorities to stop illegal sand mining activities as they destruct turtle landing sites.
“The company officials prevented the participants from leaving by blocking the roads with bulldozers,” Meor said.
‘No arrest made’
It was learnt that police and Special Branch officers were also present at the scene.
Responding briefly to Malaysiakini, Perak chief police Hassan Basri confirmed the incident, saying no arrests were made after both parties agreed to resolve the issue amicably. The incident ended about 4pm.
Malaysiakini also learnt that the Perak Department of Lands and Mines has confirmed that Maegma Minerals is not given the approval to remove sand from the beach.
Based on the National Physical Plan, the turtle landing site in Pantai Pasir Panjang, which was previously categorised as Rank 1 ESA (environmentally sensitive area), is now a Rank 2 ESA but it’s still unsuitable for any industrial activities or sand mining.
On Jan 11, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad was reported as saying that stern action would be taken against those mining and removing sand from the Pasir Panjang beach without approval from the relevant authorities.
However, Saarani was quoted as saying by Malay Mail that, so far, this activity had not been detected in the area.
He added that the land is privately owned, and the state government does not have the right to prevent its owner from carrying out activities on the land in question, except for removing the sand without a licence.
On Jan 8, Maegma Minerals was reported as saying that the company has complied with all regulations set for the undertaking works at the site.
In a statement, it explained that the works that are currently being carried out have been approved by the relevant authorities and that the company was working closely with those agencies.
Maegma Minerals has intentions to develop an integrated steel factory in the area, saying that it can contribute to the nation’s economy through important raw materials. - Mkini
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