Nga told to show proof of irregularities

IPOH: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has challenged state DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming to show proof of irregularities in Menteri Besar Incorporated’s (MB Inc) administration, particularly with regard to sand mining royalty payment.

“There are other states out there which didn’t table their audit reports as well. Just because we are not presenting the audit report, Nga is saying that there is fraud and corruption in MB Inc,” he said here yesterday.

Zambry said MB Inc was established three years ago with a capital of RM500,000.

“After a year of inception, it was able to repay the RM500,000 loan and assist the state government in handling sand mining activities and obtaining royalties in a large amount within few years,” he said.

Perak Health, Public Transport, Non-Muslim Affairs, National Integration and New Village Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon had earlier said that MB Inc had paid RM29.64 million to the state government in sand royalty between 2014 and October this year.

He said the royalty payment in 2014 amounted to RM479,007.

Mah said due to MB Inc’s efficient management, the sand royalty paid to the state government had increased to RM5.93 million last year, and hit RM23.21 million as of October this year.

“Royalty payment from last year until October this year has seen a 48fold increase.

“It clearly shows the success of the corporation’s management to reduce sand mining issues,” he said during a press conference on the sidelines of the state legislative assembly sitting here yesterday.

Mah, who is also Chenderiang assemblyman, commented on the matter after Nga, who is Kepayang assemblyman, raised the issue on sand mining management during the debate on the Perak 2017 Budget.

MB Inc chief executive officer Datuk Aminudin Hashim said the agency had also paid RM4.04 million in laterite mining royalty to the state government last year.

Aminudin added that MB Inc was consistent in monitoring sand mining activities in the state by using drones, which are connected to the operations centre here.