Saturday, July 19, 2008

Selangor gets tough on illegal sand mining - The Star

Jul 19, 2008 By Christina Tan

THE Selangor government loses over RM100mil in revenue every year due to illegal sand mining activities in the state, said state Modern Agriculture Methods, Natural Resources and Entrepreneurship Development committee chairman Yaakob Sapari.

“We have identified seven places, including Bestari Jaya, Rawang and Kuala Langat, where the illegal sand minding is widely carried out.

“The activities at certain places have been going on for more than 20 years,” he said after meeting police, Drainage and Irrigation Department representatives and other enforcement officers.

The meeting was held to discuss operations to curb illegal sand mining in the state.

Yaakob said the state government had issued 46 sand mining permits on private land.

Yaakob said the state government had set up a committee led by his assistant, Shuhaimi Shafiei, to look into the matter.

Shuhaimi said some of the culprits involved in illegal mining were those who had applied for permits and were waiting for approval.

He warned those carrying out illegal sand mining that the state government would not hesitate in taking stern action against them.

“The lorries, trucks or vehicles that are used for such activities will be confiscated,” he said.

Shuhaimi said no one had been brought to court for such illegal activities so far and the state government was reviewing the system.

He added that the state government hoped to start a standard system by July.

Shuhaimi also said a hotline would be launched for the public to lodge complaints on illegal sand mining.

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