Saifuddin Questions Sanusi S Letter Allowing Trespasser S Return To Reserve

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Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail continues to question caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over the alleged theft of rare earth elements (REE) from Bukit Enggang, Sik in Kedah.
Saifuddin today claimed that a local Chinese man from Kuala Krai linked to the alleged theft was arrested and fined RM130,000 in January for trespassing into the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
The man is purportedly one of the 40 individuals, including 35 foreigners, who were charged at the Sessions Court with trespassing into the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
Yet, he said, the Sanusi-led state government later issued a letter dated May 15 to allow the company owned by the same man to enter the same part of the forest reserve.
“I am asking Sanusi today, why issue a letter dated May 15 to allow the company to enter the same compartment of the forest reserve that is 500ha wide.
“If (the man) had already been arrested in January, why give the May 15 letter on the excuse of developing a forest plantation?
“So we are asking Sanusi, until when does he want to defend this theft incident, why must a letter be issued to the same person who was arrested and compounded?” Saifuddin asked at a press conference.
Caretaker Kedah MB Muhammad Sanusi Md NorThe man was again arrested in June, about a month after the letter was issued, the minister claimed.
Saifuddin said he awaits Sanusi’s reply to this. He then implied that he had more to reveal on this matter afterwards.
The PKR secretary-general has been making claims throughout the ceramah circuit in Kedah linking Sanusi to the alleged REE theft in the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve.
Sanusi has repeatedly denied the allegations and threatened to sue Saifuddin, but the minister is standing by his claims and has continued to make revelations on the issue.
Malaysiakini is withholding the names of suspects in criminal cases who are not public figures, pending formal charges being laid. - Mkini

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