Perak seeks federal help to probe into sand-export claims
State wants to work with ministry to catch culprits, says Zambry
THERE are up to 10 dredging operations along a 10km stretch of Sungai Perak. The menteri besar, who says no approval has been given for exports, is determined to get to the bottom of the allegations.
THE Perak government is seeking federal help to probe into claims of illegal mining and export of sand from the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state had not approved the export of sand, although there were reports suggesting that the resource was traced to Perak.
“We have checked and we never gave any approval. We want to work with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to nab any culprits.
“Anyone with knowledge or suggesting that we allowed it, we would like them to cooperate with us and furnish us with information,” he told the New Sunday Times.
Zambry added that the matter was not only of concern to the state but also to the country.
The New Sunday Times had last month reported that the growing global demand for sand had led to smuggling in the country.
Contacts were made with a few local sand exporters, including those who claimed that their supply came from Sungai Perak.
The ministry had gone on record as saying that only three companies had been issued with approved permits to export sand, two of which were licensed to export it to India. The other is to feed the demand from Singapore.
The resource is only to be taken from Pahang and Kelantan rivers.
Industry sources claimed that sand could have been exported under the guise of something else in sacks or transferred illegally via sea lanes.
Checks revealed that there were close to 10 dredging stations operating along a 10km stretch from Kampung Senin to Teluk Kepayang, in Bota, with some located close to each other.
Mountains of sand extracted from the riverbed can be seen from afar on the riverbank.
Some operators were operating during odd hours, and sources revealed that this was to maximise profits.
At least 10 tipper trucks were lining up along a narrow kampung road, waiting to be loaded with sand.
Sources told the NST that sand dredging had been going on for decades. They added that the numbers had increased significantly, by almost two-fold, in the past few years.