Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has not produced any proof of the former’s links to rare earth theft in the state.
Should there be any proof, he said, it should be taken to court.
Sanusi called on Saifuddin, who is also the home minister, to focus on his ministerial duties and not use the state elections to politicise such issues.
“What proof does he have? He never showed any proof, he just build a narrative and perception.
“If there’s proof there would be a case, but even that is lacking. Any proof should be brought to court,” Sanusi (above) told reporters at a ‘Santai Petang’ event in Gurun, Kedah today.
His comments follow a press conference Saifuddin held earlier this morning where the minister claimed he had more evidence and revelations against the incumbent Jeneri assemblyperson.
Saifuddin also urged Sanusi to explain his visit to the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik, Kedah, on Feb 19, believed to be a location where illegal mining of rare earth elements (REE) was conducted.
The minister called for an explanation after producing several photographs of the alleged visit.
He also questioned the lack of investigation papers opened over the alleged illegal mining activities despite the Kedah Land and Mine’s Office director Md Shumaime Abdul Rahmah being a member of Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah)’s board of advisors.
Admission after photo revealed
Sanusi previously threatened to sue Saifuddin for linking him to the theft of REE in Sik. Saifuddin is standing by his claims and told a ceramah last night he would make further revelations at a press conference today.
On Tuesday, Saifuddin revealed a photograph of Sanusi together with a Chinese national who is wanted in connection with the theft of rare earth resources in the state.
Sanusi previously denied knowing the Chinese national but then admitted he knew the person after Saifuddin revealed the photograph.
However, Sanusi maintained the Chinese national’s business is with the Kedah Land and Minerals Office and MBI Kedah, which he has no involvement in.
Sanusi told Malaysiakini that the man owned a solar power company that is in a joint venture with MBI Kedah and has been in Malaysia before he became menteri besar in 2020.
The person Saifuddin named at the press conference is one of two Chinese nationals frequently featured in his speeches, who were purportedly employed by MBI Kedah to carry out REE exploration.
One of them was supposedly caught trespassing a forest reserve along with over 380 bags of rare earth ore, while the other has gone missing.
Following Saifuddin’s accusations against Sanusi regarding REE theft, the latter claimed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brought an Indonesian tycoon to Kedah before Parliament was dissolved last year to apply to mine in the REE area.
Sanusi said he has no qualms about allowing anyone to apply to mine REE in the state, but they must use the right channels to bring returns to the Kedah government and its people.
Saifuddin dared Sanusi last night to prove his claims against Anwar and the Indonesian oil magnate. - Mkini
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