Fresh Leads Delay Summons Of Sanusi On The Ree Case

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The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. -BERNAMA picKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has yet to summon Kedah caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on the rare earth elements (REE) graft probe as the graft buster focusing on fresh leads, said chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
"The case is still under investigation, and I would like to inform you that there have been new statements (regarding the matter).
"(And) we have received fresh leads on the matter. Hence, this is why we have yet to call Sanusi, as we need to investigate the fresh leads first," he said when reporters met today after an event.
Last month (July 18), the MACC initiated an investigation into Sanusi's alleged misuse of authority in regard to the REE mining, which is believed to have been conducted illegally and resulted in losses to the state government.
According to MACC sources, the issue of illegal mining and loss of land had been raised by several non-governmental organisations and residents in the Bukit Enggang Sik area, including the Gerakan Anti-Sanusi (GAS) in March 2023, where illegal mining works were carried out on a large scale before being busted by the authorities.
The source added that Kedah MACC had opened an investigation paper regarding the issue of illegal REE mining in early 2023, and it was said to have called several witnesses, but it was not known how far the investigation had gone.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, on Sunday, urged the graft buster and police to investigate the state Land and Mines Office for an alleged cover-up of the REE theft in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik.
Saifuddin claimed that the state land and mine's failure to probe the REE theft under Chapter 11 of the Kedah Mineral Enactment 2004 indicated an element of cover-up, warranting it to be labelled as a scandal. - NST

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