SEREMBAN: A total of RM2.8mil in revenue was collected from the production of minerals and mining such as stones, tin ore, iron ore and sand in Negri Sembilan in the first two months of this year.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the amount was more than the RM2.6mil collected during the same period last year. “This is a positive change and I am confident that with more new permits issued, the state government's revenue will increase further,” he said to a question from Aminuddin Harun (PKR-Sikamat) at the state assembly meeting yesterday.

Mohamad said the state government had eased the issuance of operation permits and set a lower deposit for mineral extraction to enable more output from mineral production.

He added that in the past, companies were required to put up 100% deposit payment based on the value of minerals in a particular area.

“The deposit is now only 20% to attract the involvement of more mining companies. It is hoped that the effort would raise the state government's revenue collection,” he said.

Mohamad said the state government was floating the price of minerals and other mining produce according to the market price to entice miners to operate in the state.

He said the State Economic Deve-lopment Unit had been instructed to carry out studies twice a year on the prevailing prices of minerals to obtain more realistic prices. - Bernama

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