Saturday July 11, 2009
Machinery used for illegal sand mining uncovered in Rawang
Story and photos by ELAN PERUMAL
A VILLAGE headman from Desa Kuala Garing, Rawang, was found storing machinery used in an illegal sand-mining activity in the area.
The act came to light during a visit by Selayang Development Coordination chairman Datuk Tang See Hang to the site on Friday.
Tang, who visited the area after reading a StarMetro report on the illegal operation on Tuesday, was surprised to find the machinery in a store belonging to Village Security and Development Committee chairman Kee Sai Hiong.
Serious business: Tang (right) speaking to Parameswaran during the visit to the site. The former Selangor state executive councillor visited the site after farmer K . Parameswaran alerted him that the headman was in cohorts with the syndicate involved in stealing millions of ringgit worth of sand in the area over the past six months.
Besides allowing his store to be used to park the excavators, trucks and other heavy machinery, Parameswaran alleged that the headman had also allowed the syndicate to carry out sand-cleaning operations at his compound.
Parameswaran expressed his dissatisfaction over the involvement of the headman and urged Tang to act on it.
Kee, who accompanied Tang during the visit, admitted that he had rented the land to an unidentified person.
He said the land was rented out for RM3,000 a month.
Hidden: The machinery parked within the compound of the store. Asked on the status of the land, Kee said it was a temporary occupational licence (TOL) land which had been granted to him by the Selangor government.
“I only rented out the land and was unaware of the illegal operation that was going on here,” he said when asked for an explanation.
Tang, who appeared unhappy with the action of the headman, instructed Kee to remove the machinery from the land immediately.
“I don’t want this machinery to be here any more and you should not allow syndicates to use your place for illegal activities,” Tang said.
A check by StarMetro also revealed that the illegal operation had stopped since Tuesday.
Tang urged the District Land office and the Selangor government to ensure that the mining operation did not continue.
Source:
RSS
