ALOR SETAR: Kedah today defended its right to explore for rare earth elements (REE), criticising the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA) over its comments on the issue.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor suggested PBA should first pay RM50 million per year for the raw water that it extracts from a river source located in the Ulu Muda forest reserve in Kedah.
In a press conference here, he said that the state’s venture into REE was currently “exploratory” at best and was nowhere near mining for the minerals.
Sanusi added that fear-mongering by various quarters on the exploration work was unwarranted.
Last week, Kedah announced that it would be exploring for RM60 billion worth of REE in the Sik, Baling and Ulu Muda areas, having signed a deal with a Kuala Lumpur-based company.
PBA, along with other NGOs promptly responded, asking Putrajaya to stop Kedah with its REE ambitions, as the Ulu Muda area served as a water catchment for over four million people in Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
Sanusi reminded critics of the REE venture that land matters, including mining, was within the constitutional right of the state government.
He said Kedah would remain guided by Putrajaya on the extraction of minerals, which would provide guidelines to all states through the yet-to-be-set-up National Minerals Council.
Referring to an old controversy raised by two of his predecessors, Sanusi insisted PBA should start paying for raw water drawn from Sungai Muda.
“PBA is telling us what we can do and cannot do. You are getting water for free from us.
“So, if PBA wants to comment, pay up, 10 sen for one cubic metre of raw water. If you don’t want to (pay), don’t comment,” he said, adding that he was unhappy over the company carrying out many trips into the Ulu Muda forest reserve.
“Ulu Muda is under the sovereignty and administration of Kedah, you cannot trespass and enter our jungles and lands.”
According to PBA, it only extracts water from the Penang side of Sungai Muda, near Butterworth, with the majority of the water treated and supplied to most parts of the state.
However, Sanusi said PBA should pay RM50 million a year to Kedah, as the company raked in a hefty profit.
“The company had been informed by current and past Kedah administrations but we have yet to get a response,” he added.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today called for Putrajaya to save the Ulu Muda forest reserve from the “irreparable destruction” that will result from mining activities in the area.
“The mining venture, that may cover 16,300 hectares, may involve land clearing of incredible proportions.
“Logging, land levelling, quarrying, and many other activities are known to bring irreparable destruction to our natural rainforests,” he said.