Rakan Segari representative Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman (2nd from left),Persatuan Sahabat Ekologi Perak deputy chairman Mohd Rafi Zainal Abidin,Kumpulan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) president Hafizudin Nasarudin and (Kuasa) secretary Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan showing the documents and report to be submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Meru Raya on Thursday (Nov 2).
IPOH: A report over an alleged illegal sand mining operation in Segari, Lumut has been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) by Rakan Segari, a coalition of several non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Rakan Segari representative Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said questions have been raised over whether the mining operation had gotten approval from the respective government departments, including the Perak Land and Mines Department (PTG), Manjung Municipal Council and the state Environment Department.
"The mining operator claimed they have received permission and even gotten an environmental impact assessment for their operations.
"We have asked them to show the relevant documentations but they were unable to do so," he said in a press conference when met outside the Perak MACC headquarters in Meru Raya here on Thursday (nov 2).
"I have also checked with the state PTG director and was told that the operator does not have permission to take out the sand from the mining location.
"If there are no permissions, how can it still be ongoing, including taking out the sand by boats at night and no actions taken against the operator," he added.
Meor Razak, who is also Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer, said he believed that the mining operations have contravened several government development plans, including the National Physical Plan, State Structure Plan and Local District Plan.
"Under the State Structure Plan, it stated that the Segari turtle nesting site is protected but nothing has been implemented.
"Under the National Physical Plan, a turtle landing site is deemed as Rank Two, whereby developments and mineral resources mining are not allowed," he said.
"We request the MACC to investigate the related governmental agencies. Clearly, something is wrong somewhere if the operator can claim that they have gotten the approval but denied by the respective departments," he added.
Environmental Activists Society (Kuasa) secretary Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan said he has met with the representatives from the mining operation and their contractor.
"We have asked them to stop because we are concerned about it impacting Green Turtle landings.
"With their bright lights, it can scare away the turtles, which are an endangered," he said, adding that it was currently turtle nesting season.
"There are still a few turtle nesting areas, about 300m away from the mining site.
"But it is so hard now to find at least 20 landing sites in a year," he said, adding that the sand mining issue has been ongoing since 2021.
"If the operation continues, there may be lesser nests and could cause the turtles to go extinct," he added.
Also present were Persatuan Sahabat Ekologi Perak deputy chairman Mohd Rafi Zainal Abidin and Kumpulan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) president Hafizudin Nasarudin.
A request to get Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad's comment on the matter has been made.
