Friday February 5, 2010, IPOH: Several sand mining companies in Perak
have had their permits revoked for violating terms of their licences.
One example cited by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was companies that dug 30m into the ground although they were only allowed to take sand from the surface of mining land.
Zambry said that some of the companies had asked for a review of the decision and he had ordered local authorities to conduct properly checks before deciding
“The state cannot afford to jeopardise the environment,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the ground-breaking ceremony for The Star Ipoh bureau’s new building here, Dr Zambry was asked to comment on steps taken by the state following the sand-smuggling controversy.
Last month, MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull announced the arrest of 34 people in five states for allegedly accepting bribes and sexual favours from sand miners.
On whether the state had tightened procedures on sand mining, Dr Zambry said he had instructed local authorities to scrutinise all applications and ensure that sand was sent to its intended destination since becoming the Mentri Besar.
“We have also barred the sending of sand on waterways using pontoon or barge,” he said, noting that sand from Perak could only be transported via lorries.
Source: The Star
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