Sanusi: 'Mr So showed me rare earth bible'

Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the Chinese national he had been linked with had shown him a book related to rare earth elements (REE) deposits around the world.

Stating that the suspect had travelled to numerous places, the PAS leader added: “He showed me a book in the Chinese language REE bible (kitab)...”

The Chinese national, who is wanted by Malaysian authorities in connection with the theft of rare earth in Kedah, has been linked to Sanusi, who in turn has denied any involvement and claimed to be a victim of politically motivated character assassination ahead of the state elections.

Referring to him as “Mr So”, Sanusi said the suspect knew about the potential of locations with unmined rare earth.

“Mr So has his own ‘kaki’ (network). It doesn’t have to be a case of him being brought (to Kedah), he is a businessperson, (looking) for that thing (rare earth) for a long time. They know where it is.

“So, it is not surprising that he came (to Kedah), not that he came because I brought him, he came even before I was here (as menteri besar),” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Sanusi also warned that he would take legal action against those who continue to link him to the Chinese national.

“He entered (Kedah) long before, I did not bring him. (Home Minister) Saifuddin (Ismail Nasution) is the one insisting that I brought him in,” he added.

Sanusi also said that he is prepared to file a “boxful of lawsuits” against those who continue to slander him.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) showing documents he claims links caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to a wanted Chinese national

Yesterday, Saifuddin revealed a photograph of Sanusi together with the Chinese national.

The caretaker menteri besar subsequently admitted to meeting the man but insisted that he did nothing wrong.

“He (the suspect via an interpreter) told me that RM5 million has been given to MBI, and he has finished RM30 million, he had made all sorts of preparations and had an agreement with MBI before I took office.

“So I told him to continue. Do whatever needs to be done but make sure it is according to the law,” he had said.

Sanusi also lambasted Saifuddin for focussing on Kedah when it was revealed that there are 59 other illegal REE mines in other states.

Speaking at a ceramah last night, the PAS leader claimed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had brought an Indonesian tycoon to the northern state to apply to mine rare earth elements in the area. - Mkini